Tag: Cozy Mystery

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Murder at the Mill (An Iris Grey Mystery #1) by M.B. Shaw

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Murder at the Mill (An Iris Grey Mystery #1) by M.B. Shaw

I love discovering new mystery series and new to me authors. M. B. Shaw is not a new author, but she is new to me and I was eager to check out a book that sounded like an Agatha Christie mystery.

An quirky protagonist solves crime at a country house party…..at the holidays? Yes and double yes! I was so excited to read this one, especially during the holiday season!

A picture hides a thousand lies . . . And only Iris Grey can uncover the truth

Iris Grey arrives at Mill Cottage in a picture-perfect Hampshire village, looking to escape from her crumbling marriage. She is drawn to the neighbouring Wetherby family, and is commissioned to paint a portrait of Dominic Wetherby, a celebrated crime writer.

At the Wetherby’s Christmas Eve party, the mulled wine is in full flow – but so too are tensions and rivalries among the guests. On Christmas Day, the youngest member of the Wetherby family, Lorcan, finds a body in the water. A tragic accident? Or a deadly crime? Continue reading “Review: Murder at the Mill (An Iris Grey Mystery #1) by M.B. Shaw” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Gold Pawn (Art Deco Mystery #2) by L.A. Chandlar

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: The Gold Pawn (Art Deco Mystery #2) by L.A. Chandlar

This was a series that I hadn’t heard anything about. The author and the series were completely new to me but I fell in love with the cover and was eager to see what it was about.

I am always on the look out for new historical mysteries and Kensington Books have a slew of authors that I have come to enjoy over the years.

November 1936. Mayor La Guardia’s political future buckles under a missing persons case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . . .

Finally summoning courage to face the past, Lane Sanders breaks away from her busy job at City Hall to confront childhood nightmares in Rochester, Michigan. An unknown assailant left Lane with scattered memories after viciously murdering her parents. However, one memory of a dazzling solid gold pawn piece remains–and with it lies a startling connection between the midwestern tragedy and a current mystery haunting the Big Apple . . . Continue reading “Review: The Gold Pawn (Art Deco Mystery #2) by L.A. Chandlar” →

Books, Reading

Excerpt: Naughty on Ice (Discreet Retrieval Agency #4) by Maia Chance

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Excerpt: Naughty on Ice (Discreet Retrieval Agency #4) by Maia Chance

Earlier this year I had a chance to start reading this series. Though I started with the third book in the series, I still loved the cozy feel of this mystery series. But before moving on in the series, I did want to go back and read the first two books. So instead of a review for the fourth book in the series, I have an excerpt for you instead!

And the best part of this latest book—-it’s a holiday mystery! If you are looking to gift a holiday mystery or if you are just looking for a holiday mystery to put you in the mood, than be sure to check this one out if it’s not already on your radar!

This excerpt kicks off a blog tour full of reviews and giveaways so don’t miss you chance to get this one for your holiday reads! I posted a link at the end go the excerpt for you to see what else is happening on this tour!

The Discreet Retrieval Agency is doing a brisk holiday business of retrieving lost parcels, grandmas, and stolen wreaths. But with their main squeezes Ralph and Jimmy once more on the back burner, both Lola and Berta pine for a holiday out of New York City. So when they receive a mysterious Christmas card requesting that they retrieve an antique ring at a family gathering in Maple Hill, Vermont, they jump at the chance. Sure, the card is signed Anonymous and it’s vaguely threatening, but it’s Vermont.

In Maple Hill, several estranged members of the wealthy Goddard family gather. And no sooner do Lola and Berta recover the ring–from Great-Aunt Cressida Goddard’s arthritic finger–than Mrs. Goddard goes toes-up, poisoned by her Negroni cocktail on ice. When the police arrive, Lola and Berta are caught-red-handed with the ring, and it becomes clear that they were in fact hired not for their cracker-jack retrieving abilities, but to be scapegoats for murder.
With no choice but to unmask the killer or be thrown in the slammer, Lola and Berta’s investigations lead them deep into the secrets of Maple Hill. In a breathless pursuit along a snowy ridge, with a lovelorn Norwegian ski instructor and country bumpkin hooch smugglers hot on their heels, Lola and Berta must find out once and for all who’s nice…and who’s naughty (summary from Goodreads).

Excerpt

Continue reading “Excerpt: Naughty on Ice (Discreet Retrieval Agency #4) by Maia Chance” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Pint of No Return (A Sloan Krause Mystery #2) by Ellie Alexander

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Pint of No Return (A Sloan Krause Mystery #2) by Ellie Alexander

I only recently discovered Ellie Alexander when I read the first Sloan Krause mystery last year. Since then I have read one of her Bake Shop Mysteries and I absolutely adore her mysteries.

There is nothing like mixing food (especially pastries!) with murder. Being from Oregon myself, I have a soft spot for all things Pacific Northwest as well as local authors. I got in on the Sloan Krause series from the very beginning and I was thrilled to be asked to read the next book!

No other festival compares to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, Washington. The whole town is buzzing with excitement over this year’s activities and eagerly awaiting Nitro’s latest offering Cherrywizen, made with locally sourced cherries. But local brewmaster Sloan Krause is tapped out. Between trying to manage the pub, her pending divorce with Mac, and her mounting feelings for Garrett, she’s fermenting in internal turmoil. Continue reading “Review: The Pint of No Return (A Sloan Krause Mystery #2) by Ellie Alexander” →

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Treacherous Is the Night (Verity Kent #2) by Anna Lee Huber

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Treacherous Is the Night (Verity Kent #2) by Anna Lee Huber

Full disclosure, I’ve been a huge fan of Anna Lee Huber for years. I absolutely love all of her books and I can’t get enough of the heroines, mysteries, and of course the covers! The Verity Kent series is no different.

I read the first book in the Verity Kent series earlier this year and I loved it! It was an interesting start to a different type of heroine for Huber. I was eager to see what else was in store for Verity in this latest book in the series.

In 1919 England, in the shadow of The Great War, many look to the spirit world for answers. But it will take an all too earthbound intrigue to draw in the discerning heroine of Anna Lee Huber’s latest mystery.

It’s not that Verity Kent doesn’t sympathize with those eager to make contact with lost loved ones. After all, she once believed herself a war widow. But now that she’s discovered Sidney is very much alive, Verity is having enough trouble connecting with her estranged husband, never mind the dead. Continue reading “Review: Treacherous Is the Night (Verity Kent #2) by Anna Lee Huber” →