Mulled Murder by Kate Kingsbury

Cozy Mystery

It's Christmas time at country club Pennyfoot. There's a Christmas Eve wedding, caroling in the library, and an annual production put on by owner Cecily's friend. Needless it say it's a busy and slightly chaotic time of year for this hotel! When the body of a guest washes up on shore, Cecily knows this will just add to the craziness. The man was stabbed and the name he checked in under wasn't his real name. The detective is more interested in leaving for holidays than investigating, which leaves Cecily to investigate herself. When a young girl appears on her grounds with no memory of who she is, Cecily puts her to work and wonders if there's any connection to the other crime.

Getting more history from this hotel, we learn that its past could be part of its present predicament. There are tunnels and illicit card rooms that have since been bricked up and boarded off. Could the criminals be using these tunnels to move goods or hide?

I don't usually read cozy mysteries because I like the gritty part of mysteries. I want detectives and blood, the rough streets and sketchy characters. There's none of that here. Everything moves a bit slower and everyone is a bit more careful. The detective only shows up for a few pages and the regular folks are left on their own to figure out whodunnit. Even though this isn't my usual fare, it was still fairly enjoyable right up until close to the end, where the description of the crime and criminal were packed in the end as a character recounted it rather than it actually happening. I felt a bit cheated by that.

First Line: "'Really, Frederick!'"

Rating:
(3.5/5)

Peach Cobbler Murder

Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke
Cozy Murder


Hannah Swensen's, The Cookie Jar bakery is in trouble. Shawna Lee and Vanessa Quinn have opened up the Magnolia Blossom Bakery and all of Hannah's business has gone there. She is hoping it is just a passing fancy. She also hopes that Mike really isn't seriously interested in Shawna Lee.

Hannah's partner Lisa's wedding is here. Basically the whole town is invited and everyone has contributed desserts. In between the service and the reception, Shawna Lee is murdered. Who had the time and motive?

Hannah's mother's relationship with Winthrop is progressing much to the chagrin of Hannah and her sister, Andrea.

I like this book much much better than the last one of the series. There seemed to be a tad more substance although remember this is a cozy mystery. Hannah and her stringing along of Mike and Norman is awful. Mike should not have spent so much time with Shawna and Norman is taking things too slow for me. As for Hannah, decide already.

First Line: "Dick Laughlin just went in"

Rating:
(3.5/5)

The Miracle at Speedy Motors

The Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith
Genre of book

This is another enjoyable comfort read from Alexander McCall Smith.

Mma Ramotswe finds herself trying to find the family for a woman who does not know anything about them. Mma Rakutsi and her fiance buy a heart shaped bed . Meanwhile Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni listens to a doctor who promises a miracle cure for his adopted daughter. Mma Ramotswe does not believe the doctor but lets her husband find his own way and deals with the outcomes.

Although I felt the mystery part of this book weaker then others in the series the stories were better. Mma Ramotswe is so compassionate and knows exactly how to deal with her family members. As for the heart-shaped bed, it provided some wonderful comic relief.

Love this series!!

First Line: "The correct address of precious Ramotswe, Botswana's foremost solver of problems - in the sense that this was where she could be found between eight in the morning and five in the afternoon, except when she was not there - was The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, c/o Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Gaborone, Botswana."

Rating:
(4.5/5)

Strawberry Shortcake Murder

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne FlukeCozy Mystery

Hannah is the judge of the first ever Hartland Flour Dessert Bake-Off. When one of the judges, Boyd Watson is found dead, Watson's abused wife, Danielle is the prime suspect. Hannah however follows her sleuthing instinct and sets out to prove Danielle innocent. Mike Kingston, the new supervisor of detectives and a romantic interest warns her to steer clear but we all know that Hannah can do a much better job than the police.

Hannah has two romantic interests now. Detective Mike and Dentist Norman. It is nice not to see Hannah settling and enjoying both men for their individual and different personalities. I did enjoy the interaction between Hannah and her sister Andrea.

First Line: "The sound of a crash startled Hannah Swensen awake."

Rating:
(3.5/5)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Cozy Mystery

Hannah Swensen is the owner of the bakery, The Cookie Jar in lake Eden, Minn. Early one morning she finds the dairy deliveryman dead in the alley behind her bakery. Hannah's brother-in-law who happens to be a local detective asks her to keep her ears open and Hannah finds herself in the midst of all sorts of gossip and suspects.

Meanwhile, Hannah's mother is determined to get Hannah married and Hannah finds herself being fixed up with a blind date.

Is this the best mystery? Definitely not. Cute, yes but it stretches the imagination that Hannah seems to be doing all the work and Bill her brother-in-law seems to be waiting for Hannah to find dead bodies. Interspersed throughout are cookie recipes that sound good.

First Line: "Hannah Swensen slipped into the old leather bomber jacket that she'd rescued from the Helping Hands store and reached down to pick up the huge orange tomcat that was rubbing against her ankles."

Rating:
(3.5/5)

McNally's Bluff

McNally's Bluff by Lawrence Sanders
Mystery

Archy McNally, Discreet Inquirer, is attending the party of Palm Beach newcomer and former carnival owner, Matthew Hayes. The party involves finding one's way to the center of a maze.

The goal in the center yields an unwelcome surprise in the form of Matt's dead wife, Marlena Marvel. It is almost impossible that she appeared as a performer and without anyone seeing a thing turns up dead in the centre of the maze.

No one seems to have a motive but when more dead bodies turn up McNally must sift through the possible suspects and find the killer.

A light-hearted read that is just pure fun. I love McNally's joie de vivre

First Line: "The ladies shrieked in despair; the gentlemen moaned in frustration."

Rating:
(4.0/5)

McNally's Dare

McNally's Dare by Lawrence Sanders
Mystery

Archy McNally is Discreet Inquirer to the rich and famous in Palm Beach. Playing at a posh tennis benefit, Archy is on hand to help discover the drowning death of one of the waiters. The prime suspect is Lance Talbot but Archy is his alibi. Lance has recently inherited a fortune from his mother.

Archy soon has three different clients wanting the same thing. Archy is to find the killer. This seems to hinge all on a missing toe. Archy gets help, of course from the police and finds his way through the twists and turns with wit and humour. Archy is also having a wonderful time with his new love interest, Georgina.

This is a light-hearted mystery that is a quick read. Archy always brings a smile with his irreverent ways.

First Line: "I am lying facedown on the leather=padded massage table clad immodestly in my heather-gray briefs while a curvaceous masseuse in a rather abbreviated nurse's uniform strokes my left hand, one finger at a time"

Rating:
(4.0/5)

Secret Prey

Secret Prey by John Sandford
Mystery

Bank President,Daniel Kresge is murdered while on a hunting trip with several other executives in the bank. Kresge was involved in a merger that would have netted him a lot of money and seen several people lose their jobs. He was also undergoing a costly divorce and he was a despicable human. The suspects are endless. Deputy Police Chief Lucas Davenport is leading the investigation.

Before a new president can be chosen, Wilson MacDonald is named as the interim president. Jim Bone and Susan O'Dell are also in the running for the job. Just as Davenport feels an arrest might be made O'Dell is murdered. Back to the chalkboard the police go. An interesting set of coincidences showing several executives having been killed or having disappeared comes to light.

In the meantime, Davenport's friends are being attacked. Is this another coincidence or connected to the killings?

Another great Prey book with a demented serial killer.

First Line: "The chairman of the board pulled the door shut behind him, stacked his rifle against the log-sided cabin, and walked down to the end of the porch."

Rating:
(4.0/5)

Sudden Prey

Sudden Prey by John Sandford
Mystery

When two female bank robbers get killed during a bank heist by Minnesota cop Lucas Davenport's team, revenge is on. The brother and husband of the dead robbers escapes jail and is determined to kill all those involved. With a little help from a corrupt cop, he starts racking up the dead. Will Davenport stop him?

Weather is not too sure about her relationship and all is not right in Davenport's personal life.

This is a thriller that never stops. The action is non-stop right to the end.

First Line: "Through the speakers above his head, little children sang in sweet unison, O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of the dear Savior's birth..."

Rating:
(4.0/5)

Mind Prey

Mind Prey by John Sandford
Mystery

When psychiatrist Andi Manette and her two young daughters are kidnapped, Minneapolis PD Deputy Chief Lucas Davenport must discover what is going on. The reader knows that the kidnapper is John Mail, a scary ex-patient who's entertained nasty dreams of Andi for years. He enacts his violent sex fantasies with the imprisoned Andi. He has supposedly let go the youngest girl at a Wal-Mart but Andi feels it is only time before her other daughter is molested.

Lucas must find them fast before they are killed. Mail loves to taunt Davenport with phone calls. It takes Davenport in his role as a computer gamer inventor to flush Mail out.

On a personal note, Davenport is carrying around a ring, is he ready to settle down?

I love this series but this is the best yet

First Line: "The storm blew up late in the afternoon, tight, gray clouds hustling over the lake like dirty, balled-up sweat socks spilling from a basket."

Rating:
(4.0/5)