cozy mystery

Five Golden Wings

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Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews

Another welcome cozy holiday mystery by Andrews, in the much-loved Meg Langslow series. Meg and her family live near Caerphilly, Virginia, and her parents and other relatives live nearby. Meg’s mother has a large extended family who are descending on Caerphilly the weekend before Christmas for two family weddings. Cousins Lexy and Emily are both getting married at Trinity Episcopal Church and have receptions planned for the lovely Caerphilly Inn. But this is definitely not a double wedding. The cousins have different styles and color schemes and won’t even agree to share a room at the inn to display their wedding gifts. Emily has also chosen a bridesmaid who used to date Lexy’s fiancé. Unfortunately, Meg is hosting some of the wedding party at her house, and they are being rude to both her mother and her favorite cousin, Rose Noire.

Meg’s husband and grandfather keep the kids amused at the local zoo, including zoo sleepovers, but even the kids are arguing with each other, over an upcoming holiday musical. When Meg finds a dead body with a connection to both wedding parties, she has to work fast to make sure the weddings can proceed as planned. I liked the connection to the first book in the series: Murder, With Peacocks, where Meg is the maid of honor for three summer weddings and has to arrange many of the details, such as getting the brides to select their wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. I always enjoy this series, and especially appreciate the humor and Meg’s large, lovably quirky family. Enjoy!

Brenda

For Duck’s Sake

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For Duck’s Sake by Donna Andrews

Twice a year, I delight in a new cozy mystery from Andrews, featuring blacksmith Meg Langslow, her large extended family, and plenty of humor. A huge dog and puppy adoption event, complete with a parade, has taken over Caerphilly, Virginia. Many of the animals are being cared for on Meg and Michael’s farm, and Meg walks to her brother’s new home for some peace and quiet. A contractor excavating a duck pond for Rob and his wife finds some bones, old but not ancient. Meg helps Chief Burke search for stories of younger men who left Caerphilly a few decades ago. She does some research at the library, searching the local paper online and on microfilm, and also talks to some of Caerphilly’s oldest residents. Two older ladies steal several of the scenes, along with the adoptable animals. To add to the chaos, someone starts leaving ducks on Rob’s porch. Five Golden Wings will be published in October. These very cozy mysteries make for great escapist reading and rereading, and the audiobooks are excellent.

Brenda

The Spirit Moves

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The Spirit Moves by Carol J. Perry

Some cozy mysteries are either too cookie-cutter or too bland to keep my interest. The 4th book in the Haunted Haven series is a pleasant but never boring read. I liked the haunted player piano and dog Finn on the cover. Many ghosts can be found in Haven, a small town on the Florida coast, but the locals never mention the ghosts to tourists. The ghosts are usually pretty friendly, and appear and talk with some of the residents. Ghost Billy, who plays the piano, sets the mood when he plays familiar tunes in the restaurant of Haven House Inn. Ghost Lorna gives Maureen, the Inn’s newer owner, fashion and other advice.

A group of mystery writers, a bookseller and a ghostwriter meet at the Inn, along with a visiting police officer and the local police chief. Two recent unsolved crimes have tourists cancelling hotel and dinner reservations, and a beach wedding is relocating to another town. Maureen and her sweetheart Ted, the restaurant’s chef, have to come up with promotions to attract customers and solve the crimes. A weekend trip to Key West made a nice change of pace. I quite enjoyed this mystery, although it wasn’t quite as cozy as the previous book, Haunting License, which has Maureen organizing a fishing tournament. The earlier books are Be My Ghost and High Spirits. Readalikes include Haunted Ever After by Jenn DeLuca and Interview with a Dead Editor by Shanna Swendson.

Brenda

Rockin’ Around the Chickadee

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Rockin’ Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews

Every fall, I look for the latest cozy holiday mystery by Andrews. They are always a delight to read, or to listen to. Meg Langslow and her husband Michael have a very large extended family. Her mother decorates Meg and Michael’s large house to the utmost every Christmas, and someone in the family is usually involved in a Christmas production. Michael often does a one-man Christmas Carol and twins Josh and Jamie, now about 13, have appeared in many Christmas pageants. Meg herself often organizes holiday events in their town of Caerphilly, Virginia, where downtown traffic slows to a crawl as visitors enjoy the holiday decorations and carolers.

This mystery is largely set at the luxurious Caerphilly Inn, where a relative is hosting the Presumed Innocent conference, with presenters giving information on how to exonerate wrongly convicted people. Meg and Michael have a very pregnant relative staying with them, tended to by herbalist cousin Rose Noire, and Meg’s dad, Dr. Langslow. Meg, with the assistance of relatives and town residents, is a skilled amateur sleuth, and is soon asked to investigate the death of someone involved with the conference. While not as funny as some of her other holiday mysteries, Josh and Jamie, along with their friend Adam, provide comic relief as they help Meg and Chief Burke by attempting to exit the Inn unseen by security cameras. Meg and Michael’s family continue to charm, as does the town of Caerphilly. More, please! Earlier holiday mysteries include Duck the Halls, The Nightingale Before Christmas, Owl be Home for Christmas, and several more. Enjoy!

Brenda

Forget Me Never

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Forget Me Never by Susan Wittig Albert

Incredibly, this is book 29 in the China Bayles Herbal Mysteries. Thyme of Death is the first book. China owns an herb shop in Pecan Springs, Texas, a fictional town in the hill country between Austin and San Antonio. A former lawyer in Houston, she’s now an amateur sleuth. Her spouse McQuaid is a PI, a former cop, and a professor of criminal justice. Ruby, her business partner, is a psychic. Their friend Sheila is the local police chief.

China investigates a recent hit-and-run death that might be connected to a 20-year-old arson case. Gardens, scenic landscapes, pets, delicious food, and time with her spouse make a charming frame for China’s cases. In this one, the suspected arsonist of twenty years ago may have faked his death in Mexico and may be living in or near Pecan Springs. Chapter headnotes describe herbs that may (or may not) help with memory issues. This is an interesting read and a clever mystery. China is still in top form, and I look forward to book 30.

Brenda

The Mystery Guest

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The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose

This is the sequel to the very popular mystery, The Maid. I thought the Maid was well written, but didn’t like it nearly as much as some other reviewers. I think this sequel is a step up for Nita Prose.

Molly Gray is now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and is training another maid, Lily. Molly has a sweetheart, who is out of town visiting his family. Mr. Preston is still the doorman, Mr. Snow is the manager, the unpleasant Cheryl is still a maid, and Angela works at the bar. Detective Stark is still very suspicious, but is willing to work with the very observant Molly when there is a suspicious death at the hotel. Famous mystery author J.D. Grimethorpe is headlining an event at the Regency Grand, and is about to make a big announcement, when he dies of poison. Angela helps Molly investigate, and members of Grimethorpe’s fan club also provide tips.

There are flashbacks to Molly’s childhood when her beloved Gram was the housemaid at the Grimethorpe mansion, and Molly spent time there, reading and cleaning the silver. Grimethorpe was a rather scary figure to a young girl, as was his wife, but she still wants to solve the crime and preserve the reputation of the Regency Grand Hotel.

Brenda

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles

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The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

In this sequel novella to The Mimicking of Known Successes, Mossa, a detective on Jupiter, asks her girlfriend Pleiti to assist on an investigation of missing persons. Pleiti is a classics scholar at Valdegeld University and the search for two missing university students takes them to the moon Io. They later discover that several other people connected to the university are also missing, and their investigation leads them on a long train journey, with plenty of snacks, to the far side of Jupiter.

Meanwhile, Pleiti is still unsure of how much Mossa cares for her, and the effects of their previous case are about to reach Earth, which is currently uninhabitable. This is a heartwarming and cozy combination of science fiction, romance, and mystery, with a very intriguing setting. I’m looking forward to future Mossa and Pleiti adventures.

Brenda

Two New Mysteries

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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

Two Holiday Reads

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Let it Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews and The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Merry Days of Christmas by James Patterson and Tad Safran

These two authors are seldom reviewed together, one writing humorous cozy mysteries, and the other a bestselling thriller writer. But both have entertaining holiday novels that I enjoyed reading this fall. While I do not have winter holiday decorations up yet, I am enjoying holiday reads and planning my winter holiday baking.

In Let It Crow!… amateur sleuth Meg Langslow is a blacksmith who doesn’t get to spend as much time at her craft as she’d like, because she’s raising twin boys with her husband Michael, has another part-time job, and, of course sleuthing. But when her mentor Faulk is injured, Meg is needed to replace him in a weaponsmithing competition that’s being filmed on the grounds of a nearby estate. She’s the only woman competitor in the Blades of Glory tent. It’s holiday time, and her mother is helping decorate the estate house, or castle, in red, gold, silver, and black, and Michael and the boys can stay with her on site. There is plenty of holiday cheer including sledding, wonderful food, and an amazing assortment of gingerbread houses, but there seems to be a practical joker in the blacksmithing tent, as Meg has found the temperature on her forge turned up and down a couple of times. There is plenty of humor, especially when night owl Meg must be on camera bright and early. And yes, there are crows, who end up providing some clues when there’s a crime to be solved. I’m a fan of the Meg Langslow books, but often wished for more blacksmithing scenes, and enjoyed reading about Meg creating a knife and a sword for the first episode.

In the Twelve Days… Henry, Will and Ella Sullivan haven’t celebrated Christmas in five years, since Will and Ella’s mother Katie died. Henry is a history professor at Columbia, just going through the motions of teaching, and drinking a bit too much. Will, 14, has joined up with a group of older teens who shoplift and play pranks while Ella, 12, is a very quiet germaphobe whose only joy is painting landscapes and scenery for a school musical. Will and Ella combine to create a dating profile for Will, as they’d really like to celebrate Christmas again (including presents). Ms. Truelove responds, and begins sending them all the traditional twelve days of Christmas presents. Mayhem results in their Harlem townhouse with a neglected walled garden. Marian, a city animal protection worker, is often there to help with issues related to feeding and caring for the partridge, hens, calling birds, geese, and so on. Henry’s job at Columbia is in jeopardy and the house is a wreck, but the food from all the eggs and milk is incredible. A funny and poignant holiday read.

Brenda

Murder Most Royal

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Murder Most Royal: Her Majesty the Queen Investigates by SJ Bennett

This is the third mystery by Bennett featuring Queen Elizabeth II, age 90, and her assistant private secretary, Rozie Oshodie. The Queen has solved quite a few mysteries over the years with the assistance of her assistant private secretaries, and has managed to keep her detecting a royal secret. Not even the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Simon, has a clue. Quite a fun premise for a series; I enjoyed The Windsor Knot, set at Windsor Castle and All the Queen’s Men set at Buckingham Palace. In this book, the Queen and her husband Prince Phillip are headed to Norfolk for the winter holidays in 2016, for several weeks at Sandringham House. Both the Queen and her husband are dealing with flu or colds at the beginning of her visit, leaving her more time to sit and think when a hand is found on a nearby beach. Rozie shows the Queen a photo, and she identifies the ring as belonging to the St. Cyr family.

Life at Sandringham House is described with just the right amount of detail, and the Queen and Rozie both narrate chapters. Rozie meets her immediate predecessor, and is introduced, reluctantly, to wild swimming. Some of the St. Cyr family are interested in wilding, returning their estate to a more natural state, but there have been problems with wild boars and beavers. Rozie and the Queen uncover several secrets about the St. Cyr family, both recent and decades old. As the Queen would like, there are lots of dogs and horses in this mystery, even providing a clue or two. A rather twisty plot has all the loose ends solved in the end. Book Four, A Death in Diamonds, will be a prequel set in 1957, much of it on the royal yacht Britannia. Another book set at Balmoral Castle in 2017 is planned. The Queen and Rozie are likeable characters in these mysteries, and the dialogue is nicely written, making for engaging reads. Enjoy!