ROCCO spotlights SECRETS TYPED IN BLOOD

SECRETS TYPED IN BLOOD: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery #3 by Stephen Spotswood, 9780385549264, Doubleday $27.00 | 12/13/2022

 

New York City, 1947: For years, Holly Quick has made a good living off of murder, filling up the pages of pulp detective magazines with gruesome tales of revenge. Now someone is bringing her stories to life and leaving a trail of blood-soaked bodies behind. With the threat of another murder looming, and reluctant to go to the police, Holly turns to the best crime-solving duo in or out of the pulps, Willowjean “Will” Parker and her boss, famed detective Lillian Pentecost.

 

The pair are handed the seemingly-impossible task of investigating three murders at once without tipping off the cops or the press that the crimes are connected. A tall order made even more difficult by the fact that Will is already signed up to spend her daylight hours undercover as a guileless secretary in the hopes of digging up a lead on an old adversary, Dr. Olivia Waterhouse.

 

But even if Will is stuck in pencil skirts and sensible shoes, she’s not about to let her boss have all the fun. Soon she’s diving into an underground world of people obsessed with murder and the men and women who commit them. Can the killer be found in the Black Museum Club, run by a philanthropist whose collection of grim murder memorabilia may not be enough to satisfy his lust for the homicidal? Or is it Holly Quick’s pair of editors, who read about murder all day, but clearly aren’t telling the full story?

With victims seemingly chosen at random and a murderer who thrives on spectacle, the case has the great Lillian Pentecost questioning her methods. But whatever she does, she’d better do it fast. Holly Quick has a secret, too and it’s about to bring death right to Pentecost and Parker’s doorstep.

 

 

PRAISE FOR MURDER UNDER HER SKIN:

 

« New York Times Book Review 2021 Editor’s Choice«

« Lambda Literary Award Finalist for LGBTQ Mystery «

« December Indie Next Pick «

 

“A delight. . . It’s a pleasure to watch [Pentecost and Parker] sifting through red herrings and peeling secrets back like layers of an onion, all while revealing even more of themselves without guilt or shame. Just like his mystery-writing ancestor [Rex Stout], Spotswood understands that the detective story should be sound, but spending time with unforgettable characters is paramount.”—The New York Times Book Review

"Spotswood’s ability to subvert genre tropes with intriguing and distinctive characters… make this whodunit a delightfully unusual read. Readers will look forward to Pentecost and Parker’s further adventures."—Publishers Weekly

"Will’s slangy first-person narrative is captivating, and fans of circus life, such as it was, will enjoy this tale, as will followers of the 1940s hard-boiled detective genre, considerably enlivened here by having two no-nonsense women do the sleuthing."—Booklist

"Rich circus atmosphere and a satisfying puzzle."—Kirkus Reviews

"Parker narrates the novel in a voice shot through with not only guts but wry humor.... The relationship between Pentecost and Parker grows ever more fun with time. So where will they go next? For me, it doesn’t matter as long as I get to go along."—BookReporter

"Just as vibrant and compelling as [Fortune Favors the Dead]. . . The best things about this novel/series are Spotswood’s clever prose and dialogue, which so perfectly calls to mind the time period and the very colorful characters he’s crafted. . . Spotswood is quickly climbing the ranks of my favorite current authors, securing himself a spot on my instant-order list, and his Pentecost and Parker mysteries are a solid recommendation to any fans of historical fiction, lady investigators, or mysteries centered around queer characters."—Criminal Element

"Set amid the glitz and glimmer of showbiz, [Murder Under Her Skin] expose[s] the corruption and abuse that exists after the shine of spotlights go out. But even more than that, [it examines a critical period] during which women's roles were shifting as they demanded more freedoms. . . As they work the case, Will and Lillian find the world in flux around them, which Spotswood ably explores without distracting from the central mystery. . . None of the characters in this mystery quite know how to cope with these seismic cultural changes, setting Murder Under Her Skin apart from more simplistic stories set in the same time period."—BookPage

"Just like the first book in the series, Murder Under Her Skin is a fun and engaging read with a whodunit that keeps you guessing and entertained."—Historical Novel Society

 

 

ROCCO's December Cozies!

 Ma-Row!  Here are the December cozy Reviews!

KNITS, KNOTS AND KNOVES

A craft fair knitter mstery

Emmie Caldwell

MMPB/12/6/22

4 stars

It will take the Ninth Street Knitters all the sleuthing skills they have to untangle the threads of a dyed-in-the-wool killer.

For once things seem to be running smoothly for knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger. Her daughter is living on her own and happy with her new job on the alpaca farm. Plus, Lia and her Ninth Street Knitters have been knitting for the Civil War reenactment being held on the grounds next to the Crandalsburg Craft Fair. It’s all fun and battle games until one of the “injured soldiers” turns out to be the very real victim of a murder, and Lia’s friend and neighbor falls under deep suspicion.
 
Suddenly, the good folks of Crandalsburg are spinning all kinds of yarns and pointing fingers at one another. Lucky for Lia, she has the combined wits of the Ninth Street Knitters to help her ply the truth from this crafty killer.

An entertaining mystery!  The clues are carefully woven in, drawing the reader in.  Recommended for chilly nights when you want to snuggle up with a good book!  4 Paws!

CITY OF FORTUNE

VICTORIA THOMPSON

BERKLEY/HARDCOVER/12-6-22

FOUR STARS

When a day at the races reveals sabotage and subterfuge, Elizabeth Miles must use every ounce of her craftiness to even the score in this all-new Counterfeit Lady novel from USA Today bestselling author Victoria Thompson.

Wealthy but uncouth Sebastian Nolan has invited his lawyer, Gideon Bates, and his lovely new wife, Elizabeth, to attend the famous Belmont Stakes. Nolan is anxious for Gideon and Elizabeth to help his daughter, Irene, acquire a bit of polish, now that his venture into thoroughbred racing has allowed them entry into society. He is also hoping to find her a rich potential suitor. Elizabeth is not exactly the society girl Nolan believes her to be, but she is eager to attend the races. Her con artist family has made a lot of money at racetracks, although not from betting on the horses, and she enjoys the excitement of the track.

Irene Nolan seems more interested in horses than husbands, and she jumps at the chance to show Elizabeth her horse, Trench, and introduce her to his rider, Cal Regan. Elizabeth soon realizes there is more than just a working relationship between Irene and Cal. But she also knows that Irene’s father would never allow his only daughter to marry a jockey. When Cal takes a terrible tumble injuring both himself and Irene’s beloved Trench, Elizabeth and Gideon learn that the mishap was not simply bad luck—the horse and rider are victims of sabotage.  

It turns out that Sebastian Nolan has more than a few skeletons in his closet and someone is out to get their long sought-after revenge. Elizabeth knows that to help Irene and Cal, she is going to need some help in creating the quintessential con. With the ever honest Gideon at her side, she enlists those closest to her to come up with a scheme that will either ensure young Irene and Cal a first-place finish or have disastrous consequence. . . .

As with all of victoria thompson's series, a finely crafted mystery that is sure to dleight both new readers and old fans.  Four stars. 

ROCCO reviews Healther Graham and Jon Land's BLOOD MOON!

 BLOOD MOON

Heather Graham and Jon Land

TOR/Hardback/November 8, 2022

Five Stars

BLOOD MOON continues the saga of high school seniors Alex Chin and Samantha Dixon.

They may have managed to win a major battle against the powerful enemy determined to destroy civilization as we know it. But the war continues, with Alex and Sam embarking on a desperate journey to save mankind, even as their friendship blossoms into something much more.

The roadmap for their journey lies in a mysterious book, the language of which has never been deciphered, until Alex finds himself able to translate the words that may hold the keys to saving the future. Toward that end, Alex’s and Sam’s quest spirits them away to a myriad of locations around the world, each of which holds another piece of the puzzle that can defeat the alien invaders.

But an ageless foe, long the guardian of the secrets his race has left behind on Earth, arises to stop them at all costs. At his disposal is a deadly and merciless army that has been awaiting this very war, an army as unstoppable as it is relentless.

Over the ruins of the lost Mayan city of El Mirador, a blood moon is about to rise, triggering the end of mankind unless Alex and Sam can prevail in a struggle that will determine the fate of the planet. As forces both ancient and modern converge, as painful choices must be made and sacrifices accepted, two young heroes will rise again to stand as the final line of defense to preserve their world and their love.

A remarkable blend of suspense, sci-fi and mystery, BLOOD MOON is a worthy sequel to THE RISING that will be sure to delight sci-fi fans everywhere.  Land and Graham work seamlessly together to create a true masterpiece, a book that will leave you on the edge of your seat and wanting more!  It combines sci-fi, mystery, with teen romance/angst thrown in for good measure! this book should appeal to a broad range of fans, mystery, sci-fi and romance lovers alike!

We sincerely hope there will be more offerings and adventures ahead for Alex and Samantha! the book releases today - check it out at your local bookstore!

Five Paws UP!!!!!!!!

ROCCO'S NOVEMBER COZY REVIEWS!

 Ma-Row!  Here are November's cozies!

A BOOK CLUB TO DIE FOR

DOROTHY ST. JAMES

HARDCOVER

11/1/22 - BERKLEY

FOUR STARS

When a member of an exclusive book club is checked out, spunky librarian Trudell Becket must sort fact from fiction to solve the murder.

The Cypress Arete Society is one of the town’s oldest and most exclusive clubs. When assistant librarian Trudell Becket is invited to speak to the group about the library, its modernization, and her efforts to bring printed books to the reading public, her friend Flossie invites herself along. Flossie has been on the book club’s waiting list for five years, and she’s determined to find out why she’s never received an invitation to join. 



But not long after Tru and Flossie arrive for the meeting, they’re shocked to find the club’s president, Rebecca White, dead in the kitchen. Rebecca was a former TV actress and local celebrity, but was not known for being patient or pleasant. She’d been particularly unkind to the book club’s host for the evening, who also happens to be the mother of Detective Jace Bailey, Tru’s boyfriend. And Rebecca had made it clear that she didn’t think Flossie was book club material.



With her boyfriend and one of her best friends wrapped up in a murder, Tru has to work fast to figure out who cut Rebecca’s story short before the killer takes another victim out of circulation....

A good tight mystery and a good addition to this series! Four paws!

IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT SHEAR

ALLIE PLIETER

BERKLEY MMPB - 11/1/22

FOUR STARS

A murder in her yarn shop’s backyard puts Libby Beckett’s holiday plans on thin ice.…

The holiday season looks merry and bright for Libby and her friends at Y.A.R.N. The store is expanding for a holiday boom, and she’s gathered Collinstown’s businesses to decorate a community Christmas tree. Dashing “Gallant Herdsman” Vincenzo Marani arrives to showcase the rare vicuña, whose coat produces the world’s most luxurious yarn. It’s a perfect yuletide—until Libby’s ex-husband, Sterling, turns up in town…and then turns up dead.

The murder unravels Libby’s life faster than a hand-knit Christmas stocking. The luxe yarn goes missing, Sterling’s domineering family comes to town, and the vicuña attempt an escape. If Libby can’t stitch up a solution to the case, she may be trading in her knitting needles for a set of handcuffs.

We always love a good holiday mystery and this one fills the bill nicely. Well plotted.  Four paws.

PERIL IN PARIS

RHYS BOWEN

ROYAL SPYNESS MYSTERY

Four 1/2 paws

HC/BERKLEY/11-8-22

Lady Georgiana Rannoch and her dashing husband, Darcy, are awaiting a bundle of joy, but an unexpected trip to Paris will thrust them straight into a tangled web of international intrigue in this all-new mystery in the New York Times bestselling Royal Spyness series from Rhys Bowen.

What a delight it is to finally be able to enjoy a simple meal again! I have been in the throes of morning sickness for the last few months as Darcy and I prepare to welcome a brand-new addition to our little family. Now that I am feeling better, I have realized I am dreadfully bored! It seems that all my nearest and dearest are off leading their own busy lives while I sit at home and attempt to train our two adorably naughty puppies. Fun as it may be, it is hard not to long for a little adventure, a change of pace, before my true confinement begins when the baby comes.

Happily, it seems that Darcy has read my mind. When I receive a letter from my glamorous best friend, Belinda, Darcy suggests we take a trip to Paris to visit her. It seems he also has a spot of business of which to take care, so I will be staying in Belinda’s flat as she works feverishly on Coco Chanel’s fall collection. I happen to know Coco from a disastrous encounter in Nice years ago, and I am hoping this visit will go much more smoothly. But I soon learn that nothing about my time in Paris is going to be simple . . . or safe for that matter.

Darcy has asked me to take on a small chore as a part of his latest assignment. I am to covertly retrieve something from an attendee of Coco’s show. It seems easy enough, but I discover that this little errand could have terrifying consequences for a world on the brink of war. When things go horribly wrong, I am left to find a killer all while trying to fend off a French policeman who is certain that I am a criminal mastermind. But I have no plans to deliver my darling little one in a prison cell, and so I will muster every ounce of my courage to save the day . . . and, quite possibly, the world!

This s another enjoyable entry in this long running series!  four and a half paws!

The Kitten Lady's Cativity Book - a ROCCO approved review!

 I recently had the pleasure of receiving an advance copy of THE KITTEN LADY'S CATIVITY BOOK and let me tell you, t was a definite delight!  Not only is it full of fun facts for the cat lover, but there are games, puzzles, even crafts to delight cat lovers from nine to ninety!

ROCCO read and approved this book and we highly recommend it for all cat lovers (and for people who just love crafts and puzzles!)  We tried a few of the puzzles: For example, ROCCO's true cat name is Duke Itty-Bitty Boo-Boo!  Fun, fun, fun!  Five Paws!!!!!!

KITTEN LADY'S CATIVITY BOOK

COLORING, CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR CAT LOVERS OF ALL AGES

HANNAH SHAW/MEGAN LYNN KOTT

HARPER COLLINS/NOVEMBER 1/ TRADE PAPERBACK

FIVE PAWS

From New York Times bestselling author Hannah “Kitten Lady” Shaw and illustrator Megan Lynn Kott, an all-ages activity book of cat-related puzzles and projects, featuring plenty of takeaways to help vulnerable cats.

“Love isn’t just a feeling you have for cats, but an action you take on their behalf. And what better way to practice taking action than through fun, informative, and compassion-building activities?” —Hannah “Kitten Lady” Shaw

Whether you’re a seasoned cat person, a first-time foster parent, or anything in between, Kitten Lady’s CATivity Book is a fun-filled keepsake to get to know, understand, and celebrate all the cats in your life.

Kitten rescuer and humane educator Hannah Shaw along with illustrator/cat advocate Megan Lynn Kott are the perfect guides on this interactive journey. Along the way, they’ll demystify the wonderful world of feline welfare and share their own hard-won advice for helping cats in need.

You’ll discover playful games, adorable illustrations, and creative activities, including:

• What’s Your Cat’s Purrsonality Type?
• How to Decode Your Cat’s Secret Name
• Litterbox Trivia (yes, it’s important!)
• How to make DIY Cat Toys and Shelters
• Tips for Making an Adoption Profile (to ensure your foster kittens find their forever homes!)

Kitten Lady’s CATivity Book is a delightful must-have for any engaged cat lover interested in making a difference. 

ROCCO's October cozy Reviews!

 Ma-Row! It's time for our October cozy reviews!

The Crime That Binds

A Bookmobile Cat mystery

Laurie Cass

MMPB/October 4, 2022/Berkley

Five Stars

Librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, are ready to pin down a bank robber in the newest installment of the delightful Bookmobile Cat mystery series.
 
Late March is prime reading weather in the small northern Michigan town of Chilson. Though snowfall and cloudy skies deter outdoor activities, life inside the bookmobile is warm and cheerful. But as Minnie and Eddie are making the rounds to deliver comforting reads, they see something strange: loyal bookmobile patron Ryan Anderson making a sudden u-turn and speeding away. When Minnie discovers the police want to question Ryan about a bank robbery and the death of a security guard, she realizes she’s one of the only people who thinks Ryan isn’t morally bankrupt.
 
When an additional murder victim is discovered, the police immediately suspect her patron, but Minnie isn’t convinced. And when she encounters Ryan hiding from the police, she decides to help him by investigating the crimes. Minnie and Eddie will have to fight tooth and claw to prove his innocence

This is a favorite series of ours. We love Minnie and we especially love her bookmobile cat, Eddie! Always fun to read along and help them solve a mystery!  Five Paws.

Ghost and the Stolen Tears

Cleo Coyle

A Haunted Bookshop Mystery

MMPB/Oct 4, 2022/ Berkley

five paws

With the help of her gumshoe ghost, bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure sets out to clear an innocent woman of a shocking crime in this all-new entry in the “utterly charming” (Mystery Scene) Haunted Bookshop Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Norma is a modern-day nomad. Living out of her van and teardrop trailer, she revels in self-reliance, solitude, and reading in the glorious peace of nature. Jovial, wise, and scrupulously honest, she’s become an uplifting presence in the little town of Quindicott, Rhode Island, where bookseller Pen is thankful to have her part-time help. But it’s Norma’s other job, working as a housekeeper at the Finch Inn, that gets her into terrible trouble. Norma is accused of stealing jewels from a guest’s room: the legendary Valentino Teardrops, an antique necklace and earring set, inherited by a young socialite. Pen doesn’t believe Norma is guilty of the crime—though the evidence is distressingly strong. And when the spirited Norma vanishes before her arrest, Pen turns to another spirit…
 
Jack Shepard, PI, may have been gunned down decades ago, but his memory hasn’t been ghosted. Back in the 1940s, those same Valentino Teardrops starred in a bizarre case of betrayal and murder. From the look of things, history is about to repeat. Now Jack is back on the job, and Pen is eternally grateful.

Lovers of Coyle's CoffeeHouse series will love this one!  Can't beat an otherworldly PI!  Definite five paws!

Soul of a Killer

Books and Biscuits Mystery

Abby Collette

MMPB/Berkley/10/4/22

four paws

In this mouthwatering cozy mystery series, fraternal twins Keaton and Koby are trying to run their combined soul food café and bookstore, but they find themselves searching for a cold-hearted killer.

Keaton and Koby are fraternal twins who were separated as children, but now they’ve found each other and opened Books & Biscuits in the pleasant Pacific Northwest town of Timber Lake. Business is booming, but even so, trouble always seems to find them. 

Mama Zola, Koby’s devoted foster mom, has taken up residence in Timber Lake. She and Pete, one of the bookstore’s quirky employees, bring a peach cobbler over to her church’s potluck, and then someone who sampled the cobbler is found dead. Mama Zola and Pete find themselves suspects in the murder, but luckily Koby and Keaton are ready to sling out a side of justice.

good entry in a promising new series.  A+

Blackmail and Bibingka

Mia P. Manansala

Trade paperback/10/4/22

Berkley

Four Paws

When her long-lost cousin comes back to town just in time for the holidays, Lila Macapagal knows that big trouble can’t be far behind in this new mystery by Mia P. Manansala, author of Arsenic and Adobo.
 
It’s Christmastime in Shady Palms, but things are far from jolly for Lila Macapagal. Sure, her new business, the Brew-ha Cafe, is looking to turn a profit in its first year. And yes, she’s taken the first step in a new romance with her good friend Jae Park. But her cousin Ronnie is back in town after ghosting the family fifteen years ago, claiming that his recent purchase of a local winery shows that he’s back on his feet and ready to contribute to the Shady Palms community. Tita Rosie is thrilled with the return of her prodigal son, but Lila knows that wherever Ronnie goes, trouble follows.
 
She’s soon proven right when Ronnie is suspected of murder, and secrets surrounding her shady cousin and those involved with the winery start piling up. Now Lila has to put away years of resentment and distrust to prove her cousin’s innocence. He may be a jerk, but he’s still family. And there’s no way her flesh and blood could actually be a murderer . . . right?

always up for wine and murder!  They go together, right? Four paws

Plot and the Pendulum

Library Lovers Mystery

Jenn McKinlay

HC/Oct 11, 2022/Berkley

five Paws

Library director Lindsey Norris is happy to learn the Briar Creek Public Library is the beneficiary of the Dorchester family’s vast book collection. However, when Lindsey and the library staff arrive at the old Victorian estate to gather the books, things take a sinister turn. One of the bookcases reveals a secret passage, leading to a room where a skeleton is found, clutching an old copy of The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe.
 
Lindsey does a quick check of missing persons, using the distinctive 80s era clothing worn by the deceased to determine a time frame, and discovers that Briar Creek has an unsolved missing person’s case from 1989. A runaway bride went missing just weeks after her wedding. No suspects were ever arrested and the cold case remains unsolved. Lindsey and the crafternoon crew decide that justice is overdue and set about solving the old murder mystery, using some novel ideas to crack the case.

ONe of our favorite series!  We never tire of helping Lindsey crack a case!  Or her adorable dog (or husband!) Five Paws

GIVEAWAY!

We have a copy of Cleo Coyle's GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS to give to one lucky commenter!

Leave your name and email address in our comments section.  ROCCO will draw the winner at random. US entries only please.  Contest closes midnight, October 21~

We remember.....CAROLE NELSON DOUGLAS

 This October marks one year since the passing of the human's friend and mentor, author Carole Nelson Douglas.  Carole is the person who encouraged the human to "suck it up" and make the changes that enabled the first three volumes in the Nick and Nora series to be published by Berkley.  After being discontinued in "the great cozy massacre" of 2016, NN finally found another home at Beyond the Page!  But if not for Carole's encouragement, there might never have been a Nick and Nora series at all!

Below is our tribute to this fine author and friend, courtesy of Wikipedia:

PIctured above: Carole with "Midnight Louie"

 Carole Nelson Douglas (November 15, 1944 – October 2021) was an American writer of sixty novels and many short stories. She has written in many genres, but is best known for two popular mystery series, the Irene Adler Sherlockian suspense novels and the Midnight Louie mystery series.

Douglas was a theater and English literature major in college. After graduation, she worked as a newspaper reporter and then editor in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. During her time there, she discovered a long, expensive classified advertisement offering a black cat named Midnight Louie to the "right" home for one dollar and wrote a feature story on the plucky survival artist, putting it into the cat's point of view. The cat found a country home but its name was revived for her feline PI mystery series many years later. Some of the Midnight Louie series entries include the dedication "For the real and original Midnight Louie. Nine lives were not enough."

She began writing fiction in the late 1970s. The late director/playwright/novelist Garson Kanin, a pleased interview subject, took her first novel to Doubleday and it sold shortly after. Amberleigh is a post-feminist historical Gothic novel. Douglas has always addressed women's issues in her fiction and preferred mixing genres from contemporary to historical mystery/thriller, romance and women's fiction, and high and urban fantasy.^[1]

Douglas lived in north Texas with her husband, Sam Douglas, and adopted cats.^[2]

Midnight Louie series[edit]

• Catnap (1992) ISBN 0-7927-1644-2
• Pussyfoot (1993), ISBN 0-312-85218-5
• Cat on a Blue Monday (1994), ISBN 0-312-85607-5
• Cat in a Crimson Haze (1995), ISBN 0-8125-4414-5
• Cat in a Diamond Dazzle (1996), ISBN 0-8125-5506-6
• Cat with an Emerald Eye (1996), ISBN 0-312-86228-8
• Cat in a Flamingo Fedora (1997), ISBN 0-8125-6535-5
• Cat in a Golden Garland (1997), ISBN 0-312-86386-1
• Cat on a Hyacinth Hunt (1998), ISBN 0-312-86634-8
• Cat in an Indigo Mood (1999), ISBN 0-312-86635-6
• Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit (1999), ISBN 0-312-86817-0
• Cat in a Kiwi Con (2000), ISBN 0-8125-8425-2
• Cat in a Leopard Spot (2001), ISBN 0-8125-7022-7
• Cat in a Midnight Choir (2002), ISBN 0-312-85797-7
• Cat in a Neon Nightmare (2003), ISBN 0-7653-4592-7
• Cat in an Orange Twist (2004), ISBN 0-7653-4593-5
• Cat in a Hot Pink Pursuit (2005), ISBN 0-7653-1399-5
• Cat in a Quicksilver Caper (2006), ISBN 0-7653-1400-2
• Cat in a Red Hot Rage (2007), ISBN 0-7653-1401-0
• Cat in a Sapphire Slipper (2008)
• Cat in a Topaz Tango (2009)
• Cat in a Ultramarine Scheme (2010)
• Cat in a Vegas Gold Vendetta (2011)^[3]
• Cat in a White Tie and Tails, 2012
• Cat in an Alien X-Ray, 2013
• Cat in a Yellow Spotlight, 2014
• Cat in a Zebra Zoot Suit, 2015
• Cat in an Alphabet Endgame, 2016
• Absinthe without Leave, 2018 (first in a new series combining the Midnight Louie, Delilah Street, and Irene Adler series.)

ROCCO's September Cozy Reviews!

 Merow, welcome to the spooky Fall season with this bunch of cozies from Berkley!

 

A GOOD DOG’S GUIDE TO MURDER by Krista Davis (Berkley Mass Market Original; on sale September 6, 2022) |

The great Gingerbread Dog & Cat House competition has come to Wagtail, along with another murder to solve for Holly and her supersmart Jack Russell terrier Trixie in the New York Times bestselling Paws & Claws series by Krista Davis!

Visitors are arriving in droves to spend Thanksgiving in the mountains of pet-friendly Wagtail, Virginia. Many of them are bringing dog and cat gingerbread houses to enter in the contest that will be held in the new convention center. Wagtail resident Orly Biffle bequeathed the land to the town in his will, provided that they not cut down the grand old oak tree on the property.

 

When a bulldozer churns up some roots, the tree falls over on its own accord revealing a body inside the trunk! Initially, the townsfolk suspect the murderer was Orly himself, but it soon becomes clear that someone is trying to keep the truth under wraps. Trixie and Twinkletoes now have to help Holly sniff out some suspects and leash a conniving killer.

Really, anything wth Krista Davis' name on it is sure to be a hit. We love the Domestic Diva series (thank God Kensington had the good sense to pick it up) and we love this one. Who doens't enjoy solving a mystery in Wagtail?  Plus Trixie and Twinkletoes make excellent sleuths!!!!   Five Paws.

 

 

 

WHISKERS AND LIES by Sofie Kelly (Berkley Hardcover; on sale September 13, 2022) | 

Librarian Kathleen Paulson is always willing to help a friend, but to save one from a wrongful arrest, she’ll need magical backup from her affectionate cats in the newest installment of this New York Times bestselling series.

Baker Georgia Tepper has been hired to provide delicious and spooky cupcakes for the Reading Buddies Halloween Party at the library, and she and Kathleen are meeting to finalize the menu of festive confections. Unfortunately, once Georgia’s former mother-in-law ambushes her at the library and threatens Georgia with legal action, the afternoon of fun is soured.
 
When Georgia’s litigious in-law is later found dead and the friendly baker is implicated, Kathleen is eager to help prove her innocence. Luckily, Kathleen and her intrepid magical cats, Hercules and Owen, have solved their fair share of mysteries. As a result, she knows that in life as well as crime solving, it is all relative, but with hard work, she can make sure the right criminal is booked.

We love this series, we love Kathleen but most of all we love the cats! Always a treat to see how Hercules and Owen help their human solve a perplexing mystery. Another series we never tire of.  Five Paws.

 

 

 

THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS by Cleo Coyle (Berkley Mass Market Original; on sale October 4, 2022) | 

With the help of her gumshoe ghost, bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure sets out to clear an innocent woman of a shocking crime in this all-new entry in the “utterly charming” (Mystery Scene) Haunted Bookshop Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Living out of her van and teardrop trailer, Norma is a modern-day nomad.  Jovial, wise, and scrupulously honest, she’s become an uplifting presence in the little town of Quindicott, Rhode Island, where bookseller Pen is thankful to have her part-time help. But it’s Norma’s other job, working as a housekeeper at the Finch Inn, that gets her into terrible trouble. Norma is accused of stealing jewels from a guest’s room: the legendary Valentino Teardrops, an antique necklace and earring set, inherited by a young socialite. Pen doesn’t believe Norma is guilty of the crime—though the evidence is distressingly strong. And when the spirited Norma vanishes before her arrest, Pen turns to another spirit…

Cleo Coyle and company have anohter winner with this companion series to their coffee shop sereis.  Four and a half paws!

Berkley Trade Paperback/9/20/22/Four stars

Emily Dickinson and her housemaid, Willa Noble, realize there is nothing poetic about murder in this first book in an all-new series from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Amanda Flower.

January 1855 Willa Noble knew it was bad luck when it was pouring rain on the day of her ever-important job interview at the Dickinson home in Amherst, Massachusetts. When she arrived late, disheveled with her skirts sodden and filthy, she'd lost all hope of being hired for the position. As the housekeeper politely told her they'd be in touch, Willa started toward the door of the stately home only to be called back by the soft but strong voice of Emily Dickinson. What begins as tenuous employment turns to friendship as the reclusive poet takes Willa under her wing. 

Tragedy soon strikes and Willa's beloved brother, Henry, is killed in a tragic accident at the town stables. With no other family and nowhere else to turn, Willa tells Emily about her brother’s death and why she believes it was no accident. Willa is convinced it was murder. Henry had been very secretive of late, only hinting to Willa that he'd found a way to earn money to take care of them both. Viewing it first as a puzzle to piece together, Emily offers to help, only to realize that she and Willa are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse that reveals corruption in Amherst that is generations deep. Some very high-powered people will stop at nothing to keep their profitable secrets even if that means forever silencing Willa and her new mistress....

Amanda Flower takes us on a whirlwind of a mystery!  Enjoyed it even tho period mysteries aren't really my thing. four paws

GIVEAWAY!

We have a copy of Krista Davis' THE GOOD DOG'S GUIDE TO MURDER for one lucky commenter!  Just leave your name and email address in our comments section.  US entries only, please.  One winner will be selected at Random by ROCCO's brother Maxx!  Contest closes midnight, September 16!