Happy Release Day for MURDER FAUX PAWS!

 today, 2/22/2022 is the official release day of the Fifth Nick and Nora mystery, MURDER FAUX PAWS!

When a local PI's untimely death is ruled a suicide by the police, budding sleuth Nora Charles has no intention of letting sleeping dogs lie—or sleeping cats, for that matter. Certain it was a case of foul play, Nora rouses her trusty sidekick Nick and launches an investigation of her own. Then a second PI is murdered, and Nora knows the two men were on to something—and that she's on to something too.

Following the enigmatic clues left by her late predecessors, Nora soon uncovers a plot that involves a local politician, missing campaign funds, and what could be a bogus real estate deal. But when hints of treason surface, what started as small-time thievery soon balloons into a matter of national security. With the uncanny Nick sniffing out—and spelling out—leads, Nora follows a trail that will take her to the heart of a shadowy conspiracy, and into a trap set by a conniving culprit that will have her wishing she had Nick's nine lives . . .

Praise for the Nick and Nora Mysteries:

"Hiss H for Homicide packs all the trimmings into its classic cozy structure in smooth, silky fashion. William Powell and Myrna Loy played the original Nick and Nora Charles in the classic Thin Man films, and LoTempio does them great justice in this masterpiece of the genre that leaves no stone, or cat treat, unturned." —Jon Land, Providence Journal

"If you like hard-boiled old crime fiction, you will find parts here to scratch your itch. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with elements of romance (whose team will you be on?), get comfy and prepare to be intrigued." —Laura's Interests

ROCCO reviews MURDER AT THE CDC!!!!!!!!

Meow! today I am reviewing a new novel by our friend Jon Land:

MARGARET TRUMAN'S MURDER AT THE CDC

Murder and intrigue on the steps of the United States capital building pulls Robert Brixton into his most personal case yet, in Margaret Truman's Murder at the CDC

2017: A military transport on a secret run to dispose of its deadly contents vanishes without a trace.

The present: A mass shooting on the steps of the Capitol nearly claims the life of Robert Brixton’s grandson.

No stranger to high-stakes investigations, Brixton embarks on a trail to uncover the motive behind the shooting. On the way he finds himself probing the attempted murder of the daughter his best friend, who works at the Washington offices of the CDC.

The connection between the mass shooting and Alexandra’s poisoning lies in that long-lost military transport that has been recovered by forces determined to change America forever. Those forces are led by radical separatist leader Deacon Frank Wilhyte, whose goal is nothing short of bringing on a second Civil War.

Brixton joins forces with Kelly Lofton, a former Baltimore homicide detective. She has her own reasons for wanting to find the truth behind the shooting on the Capitol steps, and is the only person with the direct knowledge Brixton needs. But chasing the truth places them in the cross-hairs of both Wilhyte’s legions and his Washington enablers.

This is the second in this series we've read and we're  hooked!  If you love sharp thrillers, conspiracy theories, slick sleuths and thrill rides that keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the series for you!  Jon Land does an exceptional job of keeping the reader hooked from page one right through to the end!  a resounding five paws!!!!!

Praise for MURDER AT THE CDC:

“A wild ride with sharp curves, twists and turns. Jon Land has super-charged the iconic Capital Crimes series, merging fact and fiction in this terrific tale that races out of the gate and never lets up.” ―Sandra Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Blind Tiger

“The complicated, traumatic backstories Land constructs for each of his leads never slow the plot, which addresses a host of hot topics such as bullying and school shootings, as it races to a cinematic conclusion. Political thriller fans will be pleased.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Murder at the CDC grips you from the chilling first chapter and doesn’t let go until the resolution of the story as you try to crack the conspiracy from different angles alongside the protagonists.” ―Best Thriller Books

“Land's deft hand at characterization gives gravity to this superb entry, and the sharp-witted dialogue between good and bad characters is solid. Not one word is out of place. He weaves timely political and environmental issues like the coronavirus throughout the story, seamlessly and without being preachy. No filler--all action.” ―Press-Republican

ROCCO's February Cozy Revews!

 Ma-Row!  Here are my February Cozy Reviews!

TOTALLY PAWSTRUCK

Sofie Ryan

Berkley/MMPB/2/1/22

Second Chance Cat Mysteries

Five Paws

Secondhand store owner Sarah Grayson and her inquisitive rescue cat, Elvis, will need to close the book on a killer in the newest installment of this charming New York Times bestselling series.

Although Sarah Grayson is often tending to the contained chaos of her delightful secondhand store in North Harbor, Maine, plus dealing with the quirky personality of her rescue cat, Elvis, she still takes an occasional night off. But her evening out comes to an abrupt end when Sarah discovers Stella Hall, a member of the library board, standing over a body in the street.
 
Although Stella admits that she and the victim had fought about several things including library funding, she is adamant that she is innocent and the real killer is on the loose. Sarah is eager to help, but even with the assistance of Charlotte’s Angels, the senior citizen detectives who rent out part of her shop, there is still a vast amount of circumstantial evidence linking Stella to the crime. The odds may be stacked against them, but Sarah and Elvis, along with the Angels, will work hard to check out the suspects and catch a killer.

Another entertaining instalment in this series by Sofie Ryan aka Sofie Kelly!  Is it us, or does Elvis get more adorable with each adventure?  Five Paws!

EVIL UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN

Stephanie Cole

Tuscan Cooking School Mystery #3

Berkley/MMPB/ 2-1-22

Four stars

Nell Valenti is at ease when managing a farm to table cooking school in sun-dappled Tuscany, but begins to feel the heat when tasked with catching a killer, in this engaging Italian-set cozy mystery series.

When a wealthy New York philanthropist pays top dollar for a private, four-day ziti workshop, Nell Valenti wants everyone at the Orlandini cooking school focused on the task at hand. But complications abound when Nell’s boyfriend Pete Orlandini rushes to Rome for an unexpected business trip, Chef Orlandini is more preoccupied with a potential spot on an American cooking show than preparing for the workshop, and an uninvited woman sneaks into the villa to inspect Pete’s olive grove. The last disturbance proves deadly, and when the woman’s body is found in the grove, Nell must investigate before her hopes for the workshop, like the olives, are crushed.
 
Nell now has another item on her checklist--keep the Orlandinis out of trouble and the wealthy ziti-lovers happy while she looks into the stranger’s past. When Nell discovers that for one of the Orlandinis, at least, the murder victim was not such a stranger after all, she’ll learn that when a detective goes digging in Italy, she’d better be ready for truffle.

Okay, food plus a good mystery!  We're there!  Four paws.

A DEADLY BONE TO PICK

PEGGY ROTHSCHILD

BERKLEY/HC/2-8-22

FOUR PAWS

When Molly Madison, dog-wrangler extraordinaire, stumbles upon a murder in her new hometown, she must track down a killer to save the day.

Ex-police officer and former P.I. Molly Madison is starting over. After the death of her husband, she and her golden retriever, Harlow, move cross-country to California. But as charming and peaceful as the beachside town seems, she soon learns its tranquil tides hold dark secrets.
 
On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, an incident from her past makes her an immediate suspect—after all, Noodle’s testimony to clear her name won’t hold much water in court. 
 
To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine’s to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly’s life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her?

A new promising series (even if it does feature dogs)  Four paws.

HOMICIDE AND HALO HALO

MIA MANANSALA

ROSIE KITCHEN MYSTERY #2

TPB/BERKLEY/2-8-22

FOUR PAWS

HDeath at a beauty pageant turns Tita Rosie's Kitchen upside down in the latest entry of this witty and humorous cozy-mystery series by Mia P. Manansala.

Things are heating up for Lila Macapagal. Not in her love life, which she insists on keeping nonexistent despite the attention of two very eligible bachelors. Or her professional life, since she can't bring herself to open her new café after the unpleasantness that occurred a few months ago at her aunt's Filipino restaurant, Tita Rosie's Kitchen. No, things are heating up quite literally, since summer, her least favorite season, has just started. 

To add to her feelings of sticky unease, Lila's little town of Shady Palms has resurrected the Miss Teen Shady Palms Beauty Pageant, which she won many years ago - a fact that serves as a wedge between Lila and her cousin-slash-rival, Bernadette. But when the head judge of the pageant is murdered and Bernadette becomes the main suspect, the two must put aside their differences and solve the case - it looks like one of them might be next.

11 Guest Stars we bet you forgot were on Desperate Housewives

 Meow!

Recently the human and I binged on the tv series DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.  I was amazed at how many big stars guested on the show, whether it was for a small cameo or a recurring role.  here are 11of them I bet you forgot were on too! 

11.  Heidi Klum

Supermodel and future AGT judge Heidi Klum bumped into Gaby and Angie while they were in the city in Season 6. But Heidi didn't have anything kind to say to former model Gaby. That's because she hadn't forgotten the practical joke Gaby pulled that cost Heidi the cover of Sports Illustrated.

10.John Schneider

Played Bree's boyfriends husband in season 7. Things got awkward when he tried to kiss Bree, so he only showed up in 3 episodes.

9.  Carol Burnett

She played Bree's stepmother Eleanor Mason. She arrived to take Bree's son Andrew home with her when Bree and Andrew are having issues.

8.Doris Roberts

Played a wealthy widow who becomes one of personal shopper Gabi's clients in Season 8.

7.Nathan Fillion

the future "Castle" star played Katherine Mayfar (Dana Delany)'s husband in Season 4.

6.  Valerie Harper

TV's Rhoda played Susan's Aunt Clare, who visits her in the hospital when she's having her kidney removed.

5.  Larry Hagman

the Dallas and I Dream of Jeannie star played Lynette's mothers boyfriend, an arrogant rich guy (gee, not too much unlike JR huh????)  He dies on their wedding day, so Lynette helps her  mom keep his corpse a secret so mom can inherit his money.

4. Laurie Metcalf

Rosanne star and Sheldon's mother from the Big Bang appeared as a woman who goes crazy when she thinks her husband is cheating on her. She holds Lynette and some others hostages in a grocery store.

3.  Lily Tomlin

the Laugh-In and 9 to 5 star appeared in a handful of episodes as Karen McClusky's wacko sister, who helps her investigate Edie's new husband.

2.  Brian Austin Greene

the 90210 star appeared in Season 7 as Bree's boyfriend, who ultimately left her to be with his son in Florida.

And the biggest surprise to me:

1.  Sarah Paulson

The future American Horror Story star and Emmy winner for the American Crime Story OJ appeared in Season 4 and Season 8 as one of Lynette's two sisters.

So how many did you remember?