Paws to Remember by Sofie Kelly

An extra-special Magical Cats cozy mystery. Minnesota librarian Kathleen is looking forward to traveling with Marcus, a local detective, to Boston for Christmas with her family. There’s a problem with their scheduled flight, but taking the train may be a good option, and all will be well.

Before that, Marcus and amateur sleuth Kathleen investigate a very cold case when Kathleen finds a body that may be connected to a young woman who disappeared decades ago. Is there any family to contact, or friends who would remember what happened? Cats Owen and Hercules do their feline best to assist; neighboring dog Fifi finally makes friends with the cats and tries to help Kathleen.

In between sleuthing, there is cocoa and Christmas cookies to enjoy, tai chi classes, recipes to sample, and an art studio to repair after a pipe froze, along with other small town Minnesota winter pleasures, including table hockey.

The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman

While definitely not a cozy, this British mystery, fourth in the Thursday Murder Club series, may appeal to a broad range of mystery and thriller readers. Three amateur senior sleuths in a luxury retirement village, along with a retired spy, meet weekly to discuss cold cases, but often find modern mysteries to solve. Elizabeth’s husband Stephen, who has dementia, was friends with the owner of antique shop. The shop owner’s sudden death appears to be connected to a missing box full of heroin. The Thursday Murder Club investigates, aided by police officers Chris and Donna, Donna’s mother Patrice and jack-of-all-trades Bogdan, looking at a couple of wealthy heroin dealers, other antique dealers and art forgers, professors, and an imprisoned cocaine dealer.

A subplot of romance fraud introduces new Fairhaven residents Mervyn and techie Bob. Joyce bakes and asks questions; Ron drives and plays whatever part is needed. Ibrahim is a brilliant, mostly retired psychiatrist, while Elizabeth brings a gun and is usually their leader. Colorful and fast-paced, with a bit of violence yet poignant at times, this is an excellent entry in the series, which begins with The Thursday Murder Club.

Brenda