A Cozy Library Mystery

     Author Miranda James continues her Cat in the Stacks Mysteries with the fifth book --The Silence of the Library. Charlie Harris, a kind and warm semi-retired librarian, and his large Maine Coon cat, Diesel spend their time working at the local college library as well as the public library of Athena, Mississippi. Unfortunately, Charlie always seems to get caught up in nefarious goings-on in this small Southern town. This time, Charlie is helping Teresa, the director of the public library, organize an event centered around children's detective stories for National Library Week. Fortunately for them, the centenary novelist Electra Barnes Cartwright--creator of the beloved Veronica Thane series--is a local resident. Charlie and Teresa convince Mrs. Cartwright to appear at their event. They don't realize, however, that inviting such a beloved writer to the event will bring out all manner of unstable individuals. When Carrie Taylor--a blogger and longtime fan of Mrs. Cartwright's work--agrees to bring some of her own memorabilia to be displayed in the library, she turns up dead. Why would anyone want to kill such a pleasant and innocuous woman? Could it be because she owned a rare version of the very first Veronica Thane book? Charlie is caught up in the matter, much to the chagrin of Deputy Kanesha Berry. On top of the murder, someone has broken into the hotel rooms of a couple of book collectors who have turned up for the event and Mrs. Cartwright's literary agent seems to have gone missing. Charlie and Diesel work their way through the clues and the list of suspects to give Kanesha a helping hand--whether she wants it or not! The ending will surprise many and the little twist is quite refreshing. I highly recommend this series for fans of cozy mysteries. If you would like to check out any of the other Cat in the Stacks Mysteries by Miranda James, they are:

1.  Murder Past Due
2.  Classified As Murder
3.  File M for Murder
4.  Out of Circulation
5.  The Silence of the Library

"Death of a Policeman"

     This latest installment of the Hamish Macbeth series by author M.C. Beaton finds our intrepid police sergeant at odds with his superiors. Hamish Macbeth has managed to keep his little station at Lochdubh open so far, but if Chief Inspector Blair has his way, Macbeth and the station will go the way of the dodo. Blair insists that Macbeth does nothing important on his beat, but the people of the small communities surrounding his station rely on him to settle disputes, look in on those who have no one, and to generally put up with all manner of nonsense from the locals. Blair has decided to send policeman Cyril Sessions to spy on Macbeth and gather as much evidence as he can to shut down the Lochdubh station. However, Macbeth is onto Cyril's game almost from the moment he arrives and he is having none of Cyril's nonsense. The only trouble is that Cyril is murdered while following Macbeth in the countryside. At first, it looks like Cyril is killed by a criminal drug ring operating in the highlands. Even while trying to solve Cyril's murder, Macbeth must try to save his station, deal with his lovesick policeman Dick, and his own pitiful attempts at romance.

    The author, Beaton, excels at her descriptions of the Scottish Highlands as well as the myriad of colorful local characters she uses to populate her books. While the ending is a bit of an out-of-nowhere twist, the last part of the book does seem a little hurried. Some may say that this series is getting a little tired, but fans of the series will not be disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book for what it is: a fun, cozy mystery and an easy read.

The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon

The latest novel in Alexander McCall-Smith's "No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series is another fun, entertaining entry in this popular series.  The novels are cozies set in Botswana, and the star of the series is Precious Ramotswe, owner and lead detective at the agency.  In this installment, Mma Makutsi has to be away from the office for a few weeks due to personal reasons, and Mma Ramotswe feels the loss as she tries to solve cases without the helpful advice of her associate detective.  Meanwhile, her husband, Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni, has his own hands full with his errant mechanic apprentices and his own desires to become a "modern husband" for Mma Ramotswe.  Mma Ramotswe's main cases are trying to find the person making threats against Mma Soletti and her Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon and discovering if the boy set to inherit his Uncle's farm is who he says he is.  One of the best parts of these books is the character development.  The books' characters are charming and the reader truly gets a taste of what it means to live, today, in Botswana.  These books are one of my favorite mystery series, because the country of Botswana figures as prominently as the mysteries explored.  The series needs to be read in order, so start out with the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" if you want to begin the series.  Alexander McCall Smith is Professor Emeritus of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, who was born in Zimbabwe.  He has taught law at the University of Botswana and lives in Scotland.    

Who Killed the Professor?

Compound Murder is the latest Dan Rhodes Mystery by Bill Crider; and I have to tell you it was such a pleasant and easy read, that I finished it in just a couple of hours. Small town Texas sheriff, Dan Rhodes, just wishes the local Dr. Pepper manufacturer would go back to using real cane sugar in their formula, so that he could enjoy his daily caffeine. While musing over his boycott of the beverage, and staring at the Mr. Pibb bottle in front of him, the phone rings. Police dispatcher, Hack, tells him that the local beauty shop has been burgled and the thief made off with the hair! When sheriff Rhodes arrives, he finds that someone has broken in through the bathroom window and stolen all of the wigs and hair extensions made of natural hair--a pretty expensive bounty. Just as he is telling the owner to leave everything as it is and to cancel all of his appointments for the morning, Hack calls Rhodes again and tells him to get over to the local community college; there's a dead body. Math professor Seepy Benton, a graduate of the Citizens' Sheriff's Academy, is trying to keep all of the students and faculty away from the crime scene, but he's having little luck. The sheriff helps herd the students and professors inside and takes a look at the body, but before he can get into any real police work, a car peels out of the parking lot and Rhodes give chase, leaving Seepy to guard the area. A high speed chase ensues that winds up with the suspect's car smashed into a tree with its trunk wide open and Rhodes' windshield cracked and sagging. Turns out, the driver is 19 year-old Ike Terrell, son of the local doomsday prepper, Able Terrell. Rhodes finds the missing hair in the open trunk of Ike's car. The Terrells are thought to be gun-toting, survivalists that have fenced themselves inside the family property. Ike is unwilling to talk, so Rhodes has no choice, but to book him. This is all just the first couple of chapters. Sheriff Rhodes also has to deal with copper thieves, wrestle a pot-bellied pig, calm trigger-happy deputies, all the while trying to find out who murdered English professor Earl Wellington. By all accounts, Wellington was not liked. He was a picky when it came to his students attendance and work and he lacked the social skills necessary to make friends. Rhodes' investigation is fraught with red herrings and the diversions of small-town America and peppered with the humor and frailty of the human condition. I can't reveal anymore without giving away the story, so you'll just have to give it a go!

Follow Some Fox Tracks...

I followed a different path this past week with one of my favorite authors---instead of reading her newest novel, I listened to it instead!  Rita Mae Brown's Fox Tracks is the latest in her cozy series starring Sister Jane Arnold, Master of Foxhounds of the Jefferson Hunt in Albemarle County, Virginia. This book's action begins in New York City, where Hunt Clubs from all over the United States have gathered for their annual dinner and gala event.  Feeling celebratory, Sister Jane and her young friend (and Custus Hall graduate) Tootie run down the street a few blocks to visit a tobacco shop and purchase cigars.  After an entertaining conversation with the owner, Adolfo, Sister and Tootie are shocked when they return to the shop to retrieve Sister's cell phone and find Adolfo dead with a package of American Smokes cigarettes lying over his heart.  This murder leads to an investigation of contraband tobacco that stretches across Virginia and even through Albemarle County.  Interspersed with the tobacco plot are descriptions of hunts and events in the lives of the human, canine and horse characters.  I suggest you begin reading this series with the first book, Outfoxed. If you enjoy listening to audio books on CD, Fox Tracks is a special treasure because it is narrated by the author herself! 

Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Mrs. Murphy's Mysteries!

If you are a fan of Rita Mae Brown, I am sure you have eagerly anticipated the next installment in her "Mrs. Murphy" mystery series which are co-written by her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown! The Big Cat Nap is the Brown's latest collaboration and it is as charming and fun a read as the rest of the series.  Since this story is the twentieth one in the series, the action, plot, characters and story are well developed and fun!  These cozies star Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her pet dog TeeTucker (corgi), Mrs. Murphy (tiger cat) and Pewter (overweight gray cat), her husband, Fair, DVM, and a host of their friends in Crozet, Virginia.  Harry was the postmistress of Crozet until she quit to take up farming on her family's land and has had some success growing ginseng, hay, grapes and sunflowers.  All is well in Harry's world until several of her friends have vehicular mishaps and Harry discovers a murdered mechanic in a local repair shop. Despite numerous warnings from her animals and friends, Harry decides to conduct her own investigation when other mechanics start dying and ends up involved in her own deadly chase!  A self-professed "motorhead," Harry enjoys discovering things about cars, and her love of vehicles is reflected in this book. If you are "put off" by animal characters in books, don't be afraid of this series--the animals do talk to each other and interact with humans, but only in ways that are normal behavior for cats and dogs.  Rita Mae Brown lives in Afton, Virginia and is the author of this series as well as the Sister Jane, a new canine mystery series and several other novels.  She is also an emmy-nominated screenwriter and poet and can be reached at www.ritamaebrown.com.   

Murder Unleashed

Murder Unleashed by Rita Mae Brown is the second book in her canine mystery series starring Magdelena "Jeep" Reed, Magdalena "Mags" Rogers and their dogs King and Baxter. The first book in the series is A Nose for Justice. This cozy mystery is set in Reno, Nevada, and furthers the story of Jeep, a seventy year old who is growing food on her ranch in the hopes of ending hunger in the area and Mags, a former Wall Street trader who was laid off from her job and is finding solace living with her great-aunt. I enjoyed the contemporary events discussed in this book, as the action of this story is centered around a bunch of squatters that are living in a group of vacant, foreclosed homes on one particular street in Reno, without food or electricity. The foreclosure crisis has taken a huge bite out of the real estate market in Reno and many banks and people are reeling from the hit. Big-hearted real estate agent, Babs Gallagher enlists Jeep and Mags to start a community research program to get the water and electricity turned back on in the houses and help the squatters find jobs. When one of their friends is attacked and a former banker is found brutally slain in one of the abandoned homes, Jeep and Mags set out to find the killer. Baxter, King and a host of other canine characters band together to protect their owners, help them find the killer and perhaps find a few clues as to where the missing silver from an old mine is. This is a great series for dog lovers and any other animal friendly mystery readers!

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party

Alexander McCall Smith is one of my favorite cozy authors! His writing is luxurious, and his details about Botswana make the reader feel as if he/she has stepped out of his/her world and into Africa from the moment you open the book. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party is the latest book in McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series centered around Mma Ramotswe, Private Detective and her husband, the mechanic Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. They live on Zebra Drive in Gabarone and they both love Botswana, appreciating the new changes as well as the old traditions. Mma Ramotswe is the owner of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and works alongside her Assistant Detective Mma Makutsi. This book is centered around the planning of Mma Makutsi's upcoming wedding to Phuti Radiphuti, the reappearance of Mma Ramotswe's tiny white van and a mystery involving the murder of several of Rra Moeti's cattle. Mma Ramotswe solves the case in her usual fashion, following the clues as well as her heart and the conclusion is satisfactory for all parties involved. This series of books makes me want to visit Botswana--Alexander McCall Smith is Professor Emeritus of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and taught law at the University of Botswana. He currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland and makes several trips to Botswana each year. If you want to delve into this series, you'll have to start at the beginning with the first book in the series, the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, because even though the mysteries do not build on each other, the life of each character is developed throughout each book.

Hiss of Death

I always enjoy reading new installments in Rita Mae Brown's "Mrs. Murphy" mysteries and her latest, Hiss of Death is another great entry in the series! Hiss of Death solves a mystery as well as furthers the story of Mary Minor Harristeen (Harry) and her husband Fair, her pet cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, her corgi Tee Tucker and her horses Shortro and Tomahawk. Harry and her family live in Crozet, Virginia where she farms and enjoys life outdoors and with her friends. Animals are very important to Harry and her trusty sidekicks (Mrs. Murphy, Pewter and Tucker) are by her side every minute of the day. Harry has this uncanny knack of stumbling over dead bodies , and the murders she keeps finding in this book are all associated with Central Virginia Hospital. I admire Rita Mae Brown's tackling cancer in this book---Harry and her friends help host a 5K run to raise funds for breast cancer research and Harry has her own, deeply personal brush with breast cancer. This book is a wonderful cozy mystery with plenty of humor, exploration of the newest cancer treatments and lots of descriptions of beautiful Virginia landscapes. A great choice for fans of the series as well as any cozy mystery lover.

A Decadent Way to Die

I've been reading this series by G. A. McKevett sine the beginning (Just Desserts is the first one) and have loved every one. This is the best book yet though and I can't wait to read the next one. This series is about a private detective originally from Georgia, Savannah Reid, and A Decadent Way To Die is set in the fictional town of San Carmelita, CA. Savannah is a plus-size woman and she left the San Carmelita Police Department due to issues with her weight. She now runs the Moonlight Magnolia Detective Agency with her friend and assistant Tammy, and two retired FBI agents. Her one-time partner at the police department, Dirk Doulter, often helps them on cases and she returns the favor.

In the latest installment, Savannah is commissioned to find out who wants to do harm to Helene Strauss, the 81 year old owner of Strauss Doll Works, Inc. There have been two suspicious "accidents" and the evidence and motive are pointing towards members of Helene's own family. Savannah is on the case but has to do some work alone because Tammy's time is taken up with a new boyfriend who seems intent on controlling her every movement. Savannah's efforts to get Tammy to see the boyfriend's controlling nature are met with resistance until Tammy is savagely beaten. Savannah doesn't let anybody get away with that! As the case of who wants to kill Helene draws to a close, there are some unforseen consequences for Savannah and perhaps at long last the simmering attraction Savannah and Dirk feel for each other will come to a head--or will they once again part ways as just friends?

G. A. McKevitt is a pseudonym for Sonja Massie.

A Nose for Justice

I really enjoy it when one of my favorite authors begins a new series :) I enjoy Rita Mae Brown's "Jane Arnold" and "Mrs. Murphy" series (this is co-written by her cat Sneaky Pie Brown and stars postmistress Mary Minor Haristeen and her cat Mrs. Murphy). Brown's latest is similar to the "Mrs. Murphy" series in that the animals have starring roles in this cozy mystery. A Nose for Justice is the debut mystery in this series. The main characters are Magdalene "Jeep" Reed, a ranch owner in Nevada who piloted planes in World War II and is very well off because she discovered a large quantity of gold deposits and purchased the land and its rights. She owns a German Shepherd named King who discovers skeletal remains buried underground in her barn. The other main character is Magdalene "Mags" Rogers, Jeep's great-niece, who had a high-powered Wall Street job and moved in with her great-aunt to start her life over when the economy tanked. Mags owns a dachshund named Baxter who has had to discover how to get along with King and adjust to life in the great open spaces of Nevada. Another important character is Pete Meadows, a deputy investigating the sabotage of several water pumps around the ranch and a series of local murders. The writing is typical Rita Mae Brown--full of lush descriptions of the scenery and well-developed characters. My only complaint with the book is that there was a lot of involved information about the fight for water rights in Nevada. I believe the information was useful in setting up the scene for future books in the series, but the abundance of water rights history and information did make the first third of the book drag. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series and watching these characters develop.

Roast Mortem

When the weather finally turns cooler, put on a pot of coffee and grab the latest coffeehouse mystery, Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle. Clare Cosi, manager and head barista of the landmark Village Blend coffeehouse in New York, has perfected the pulling of steaming hot espresso. But can she keep New York's bravest from getting burned? When the firefighters of Ladder Company 189 pull Clare and her friends out of a blazing cafe', she happily comes to their resue. As a favor to the men, she visits their firehouse to teach them the finer points of operating their newly donated espresso machine. But more than their coffee turns out to be hot! Somebody's torching cafe's around the city, and the firefighters are beginning to die in suspicious ways. Believing the two events are related, Clare investigates, staking out a five-borough bake sale and sniffing out clues. When her detective boyfriend, Mike Quinn, is pulled in to the fire of a false accusation, Clare is desperate to put out the flames. Could his firefighter cousin be setting Mike up for payback from a long family feud? And will she be able to come to Mike's rescue before someone tries to extinguish her?

Mma Ramostswe Strikes Again!

The newest book in the "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series is another charmer! Alexander McCall-Smith's The Double Comfort Safai Club is the latest book in the series and serves its purpose of giving the readers of this much-loved series more information about the main characters as well as solving a few mysteries! These books are cozies, and the setting of Botswana (and its people) is as much a part of these books as are the main characters. I highly suggest that you read these books in order, as McCall-Smith advances the lives of the characters with every installment. In this book, a terrible accident occurs to Mma Makutsi's fiance', Phuti Radiphuti, and Mma Ramotswe must help her Assistant Detective with her personal problems while attending to the agency's cases as well. My favorite part of this book was when Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi went on a safari in the Delta in order to locate one of the guides. The actions of both women were humorous and it was refreshing to see them visit a new place. These books are great if you enjoy light reading about a place, Botswana, that is alive and vibrant and full of interesting characters.

Cat of the Century

Rita Mae Brown, and her co-author Sneaky Pie Brown (her beloved tiger cat) have written another entertaining cozy! Cat of the Century is the eighteenth book in the "Mrs. Murphy" series starring Mary Minor "Harry" Harristeen, former postmistress of the town of Crozet, VA. I whole-heartedly believe you should read these books in series order, as the characters develop with each story and if you begin in the middle you might be confused as to who is who and why they act the way they do! Crozet is your typical small southern town---everyone knows everyone else and tries to meddle in your business, but in a charming way, of course. Harry is a farmer, and is descended from a long line of Virginians who instilled in their children a love of the land, animals and proper manners. In Cat of the Century, Harry is attending a reunion at William Woods College, because her Aunt Tally is the featured speaker and the reunion has been planned around her 100th birthday celebration. The mystery, in this book, occurs when several alumni association officers wind up dead. Even though Harry never attended William Woods, she is thrust thick in the middle of the mystery when she attempts to discover who murdered the officers and for what reason. Harry's trusted companions, her cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter and her dog Tucker, along with Aunt Tally and he best friends' animals, use their animal intelligence to help Harry solve the case. I enjoy this series because the animals talk to each other, and the reader hears their thoughts, but humans cannot understand them and they must use their wits to communicate. These books are great for mystery lovers who love animals and prefer their mysteries not too violent. Check out Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie on their website at ww.ritamaebrown.com.

Discover the writing of Glen Albert Ebisch

(This entry was written by Evangeline Cessna, who will soon be a regular contributor to this blog!)

What do the murders of three men in 1944 have to do with the murder of a farmer sixty years later? Perhaps nothing, but why the similarity to the earlier murders? This is exactly what Marcie Ducasse, assistant editor of Roaming New England magazine keeps asking herself. In the first two mysteries of this series, The Crying Girl and Grave Justice, editor Amanda Vickers leads and Marcie follows, however, author Glen Albert Edisch puts athletic, quick-witted Marcie front-and-center in his third mystery, Ghosts From the Past. Amanda is stuck in the office in Maine whle Marcie is "roaming" in Vermont looking for stories for the "Weird Happenings" section of the magazine. An elderly farmer has written to Marcie to tell her about the ghosts in his barn, as three men were hung there in 1944 during World War II, but back then no one could figure out how or why. When Marcie arrives at the farm, she immediately realizes that the elderly farmer, Sel Hayes, is a few bales shy of a load. Sel claims he has evidence to prove who killed the men sixty years ago, but he wants to be paid a great deal more than Marcie can offer. Back at her hotel, Marcie goes over her notes while preparing for dinner that she shares with a boyish freelance journalist named Kevin Murray. The next morning, Sel Hayes turns up dead and Marcie is questioned as she was the last person to see Sel alive. Marcie realizes that she and Kevin are working the same story, so they band together to investigate Sel's murder. By piecing together what happened sixty years ago, Marcie and Ken paint a picture of why Sel Hayes was killed, but the answer to who killed him eludes them until the very end. By putting the "ghosts from the past" to rest, they are able to figure out the present. I won't give away the ending, but I will say that this cozy little mystery is a fun and quick read. The characters are worth caring about and are multi-dimensional. Although it is not necessary to read the first two books in the series to understand the action, it would be worthwhile to do so. I sincerely hope the Ebisch continues this series and gives us more views into the lives of Amanda Vickers and Marcie Ducasse.

Murder 101

Quick Study: A Murder 101 Mystery by Maggie Barbieri is a fun, quick read in a cozy that is sure to please mystery fans! Full of romance, humor and suspense, the book stars college English Professor Alison Bergeron. Alison begins dating NYPD detective Bobby Crawford, thinking that dating him would be exciting and involve lots of riding around in police cruisers, chasing down criminals and putting away the "bad guys." When a friend asks Alison to help her find his nephew, she eagerly asks Bobby for his advice on how to search for him. Unfortunately, the nephew's body had been pulled out of the Hudson River a few days earlier and Alison and Bobby begin to suspect that his death is not an accident! The plot thickens as Alison and Bobby begin spending a lot of time together trying to solve the case--Alison and Bobby's romance is as much a part of the story as is the murder, and readers who enjoy character development will love watching Alison and Bobby's relationship develop as they race to solve the murder mystery. Quick Study is the third book in this series: the other two are Extracurricular Activities and Murder 101.

Tea Time in Botswana

I just finished reading the newest installment in the delightful "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series written by Alexander McCall Smith. The book, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built is another charming installation of the series, which stars Mma Ramotswe as the proprietor and head detective of the agency which is located in Gaborone, Botswane. You really do need to read this series from the beginning, as the stories build on each other and you'll seriously miss out on several nuances of Botswane if you skip ahead. The first book in the series is the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which was published in 2003, and there are currently ten books in the series. Like the other nine books, the current book is a cozy that covers the solving of several cases, interspersed with the further development of the characters' lives. You just can't help but fall in love with Mma Ramotswe, her Assistant, Grace Makutsi, and all of the other details of life in Africa! Alexander McCall Smith is a wonderful storyteller and his words envelop you in African culture. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. McCall Smith in person at a book signing at Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS last year and he is as delightful in person as he is in his books. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He currently lives in Scotland, but makes several trips to Botswana every year. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is now a television series produced by HBO and the scenery and casting of the show have made the books come more alive for me. Alexander McCall Smith is also the author of the Isabel Dalhousie series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series and the 44 Scotland Street series of books.

"Witchy" and Mysterious

One of my favorite mystery series is the "Ophelia and Abby" series written by Shirley Damsgaard. To me, this series has a lot of positive elements in it, such as the fact that the main character, Ophelia Jensen, is the Librarian in the small town of Summerset, Iowa. But....she is also a witch, and is descended from a long line of witches! Ophelia's grandmother, Abby, is a witch too (and a fabulous gardener) who learned her skills from her family as she was growing up in the hills of Appalachia. Ophelia is a reluctant user of her powers, and her relunctance contributes to her charm. She is also an animal lover (she has dogs and a cat) and a new mom--but you should read the series to find out the rest of those details. Ophelia tries very hard to live a nice, normal, quiet life in Summerset, but somehow she always ends up embroiled in messes. This is especially irritating to Sheriff Bill Wilson, who always seems to be the one trying to clean up the messes. In Damsgaard's latest book in this series, The Witch's Grave, Ophelia is attending a library fundraiser at a winery, where she meets handsome, charming, mystery author (did I mention Ophelia loves reading mysteries) Stephen Larsen. She is enjoying Larsen's company and flattery when suddenly, a shot rings out from the trees surrounding the grape vines and Ophelia is shocked to see that Larsen has been hit! Who shot Larsen? Why was he shot? Was Ophelia the intended target? Ophelia, with the help of Abby, her friends, and plenty of strangers, must solve the mystery before it's too late! This is a great mystery with some nice supernatural elements and great characters. Try reading this series and I bet you will be as "charmed" as I am by Ophelia Jensen.

Making the Jump

MAKING THE JUMP
Two of my favorite authors who have previously been published in paperback have made the jump to hardcover. They are both cozy mysteries.


“Espresso Shot” by Cleo Coyle continues the adventures of Clare Cosi, manager and head barista of the bustling New York coffeehouse The Village Blend. Clare’s been hired to create a gourmet coffee and dessert bar for a New York wedding to be held at the world-renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art. Famous chefs will be there, celebrities, members of the press, well-known politicians—so why isn’t she thrilled to have this chance to shine? Because the person tying the knot is Matteo Allegro, her ex-husband and current business partner. And while Clare has no plan to ever marry Matt again, she’s afraid he’s making a terrible mistake.
The bride-to-be is “Trend” magazine editor Breanne Summour. Beautiful, wealthy and sophisticated, the snarky tastemaker has never been a low maintenance kind of gal and now she’s in full blown bridezilla mode. The only way Clare can possibly deal with her is to put her misgivings aside and focus on business. But as a successful amateur sleuth, murder is Clare’s business, too, and when fatal accidents begin befalling people close to Breanne, Clare becomes suspicious. Is someone trying to sabotage the wedding? To kill Breanne?


“The Chocolate Snowman Murders” by Joanna Carl features premier chocolatier Lee McKinney Woodyard, part owner of TenHuis Chocolades. With the Warner Pier Winter Arts Festival just days away, everyone in the West Michigan town is looking forward to the big art show—and, of course, the unveiling of TenHuis Chocolade’s special holiday chocolates.
As treasurer of WinterFest, Lee is up to her elbows in the arguments, egos, and last-minute mix-ups that happen behind the scenes. But she’s coping, even when the guest juror of the arts festival shows up drunk. Lee leaves him to sleep it off, but she is stunned the next day when her husband, Joe, discovers that someone has put the visiting dignitary in a permanent state of repose. As the last people spotted near the crime scene, Lee and Joe are in a sticky situation. But after another murder and a run-in with a deadly snowman, they’re more determined than ever to find the real killer before someone else comes to a bitter end.

A Dog-Gone Great Mystery

I just finished reading Hounded to Death, a new mystery written by one of my favorite authors, Rita Mae Brown. A bonafide Southern writer (she resides in Afton, Virginia), Ms. Brown’s books truly reflect the social graces, culture and food that all Southerners know and love! Hounded to Death is the latest book in Rita Mae Brown’s foxhunting series starring Sister Jane Arnold, Master of Foxhounds. Sister Jane is a feisty widowed woman in her seventies who has done her share of living and is very respected by the members of her hunt club. When murders occur in her community, Sister Jane can not resist joining the investigations. As with the other books in this series, Ms. Brown gives wonderfully detailed descriptions of the day-to-day operations of a hunt club, including particulars about the foxes, hounds, horses, farm animals and the lives of the hunt club members. Readers can trust the accuracy of these details because Rita Mae Brown is also the Master of Foxhounds of a hunt club located in Afton. The animals in this series do take part in the narration; however, whenever any animal speaks, their narration is in italics and only other animals are able to understand their dialogue. The books in these series are cozies- the murders that occur are gruesome but not gory. Ms. Brown has written many stand-alone books as well as other series such as three novels about the Hunsenmeir sisters, Juts and Weezy, and the Mrs. Murphy mystery series (co-authored by her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown). If you have not read any of Ms. Brown’s books, you should definitely “treat” yourself to one of her mysteries!