Rocco and Chazz's October cozy reviews!

Ma-row! Here are our October Cozy Reviews!

A MERRY LITTLE MURDER PLOT by Jenn McKinlay

Berkley Hardcover Original; on sale October 8, 2024

 

‘Tis the season in Briar Creek in the newest installment in the Library Lover’s Mystery series from the New York Times bestselling author of Fatal First Edition. To try to spread some Christmas cheer, library director Lindsey Norris invites the new writer in residence, Helen Monroe, to join her crafternoon club. Helen politely refuses and when an altercation happens between Helen and another patron, Lindsey begins to suspect the author has been keeping to herself for a reason. When another newcomer, Jackie Lewis, reveals she’s visiting town to be near Helen (believing they are “destined” to meet), Lindsey feels compelled to tell Helen about Jackie as she suspects that Helen is unaware her “number one” fan is in town. When Jackie’s body is later discovered in the town park with a copy of Helen’s latest manuscript in her hand, the the reclusive novelist the prime suspect in the murder of her self-proclaimed mega-fan. Helen’s frosty demeanor melts when Lindsey offers her help, and now the librarian and her crafternoon pals must prove the author innocent before "The End" becomes Helen's final sentence.

Rocco's review:  Another great entry in the Library Lovers mystery series.  Lindsey Norris is at the top of her game when a 'number one' fan is murdered.  Lots of action in this entry.  However, for the future might we suggest another feline friend for Heathcliff??????  Five Paws.

 

 

THE KNIFE BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Kate Carlisle

Berkley Hardcover Original; on sale October 8, 2024

 

Contractor Shannon Hammer hopes for a peaceful Christmas with her fiancé, Mac, until murder throws a wrench in her holiday plans in this new installment of the USA Today bestselling Fixer-Upper Mystery series. Christmas has come to Lighthouse Cove, and Shannon has been contracted to renovate a local hotel owned by the Garrisons, a family that’s so devoted to the holidays they serve a seven-course dinner every night from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Last year’s festivities featured a train that transported guests around the breathtaking Cliffside property. This year, Shannon and her crew have been commissioned to build a Victorian-style carnival midway with games and prizes galore. Everyone in town loves the hotel’s spirit, except the Garrisons’ children and their spouses, who are hum-bugged by the money being wasted on holiday cheer while their inheritance goes up the chimney. Things turn nasty when a mischief-maker close to the family is found dead. It’s up to Shannon and Mac to catch a sinister Scrooge before all of Lighthouse Cove receives coal for Christmas.

Chazz Review:  This is anohter good series and I have to admit I also enjoy the Hallmark movies based on it!  We also love a Christmas mystery (one of these days the human must write one!)  Who says murder and holidays dont go together?  Five Paws

MURDER, SHE WROTE: A KILLER CHRISTMAS by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran

Berkley Hardcover Original; on sale October 8, 2024

 

This fall marks the 40^th anniversary of the Murder, She Wrote TV series, and what a better way to celebrate than by diving into the newest entry in the USA Today bestselling series! Christmas is not an easy time to sell a house, but Cabot Cove Realtor Eve Simpson has finally found a buyer for the old Jarvis homestead—Boston tycoon John Bragdon. Unfortunately, Eve gets a lump of coal in her stocking in the form of Kenny Jarvis, who has been missing for years and presumed dead but has now come back to stop his sister from selling their childhood home. Eve presses on, organizing a welcome dinner for Bragdon and his wife, Marlene, to meet the leading citizens of the town, including Jessica Fletcher. Dinner is interrupted by an uninvited guest—not Santa but Kenny, who threateningly promises Marlene she will never live in his house. When Marlene is found dead a few days later, Kenny is the natural suspect. But Jessica isn′t so sure he′s on the naughty list…

Rocco's review:  I mean, what can you say about a Murder She Wrote mystery?  For fans of the longtime TV show, it's as if Jessica never left! Always a hoot to see how Jessica can take seemingly  unrelated clues and weave a solution out of them! Five Paws! 

 

 

 All these books are out today! Run don't walk!

Chazz and Rocco

SPOTLIGHT AND REVIEW SOFIE KELLY'S FUREVER AFTER!

 

Librarian Kathleen Paulson is in for a spell of trouble when she finds a dead body, and only
her reliable magical cats can help her tail a killer in the newest installment of this 

New York Times bestselling series.

Kathleen is busy running the library and planning her upcoming wedding to detective Marcus 

Gordon when she suddenly stumbles across a body in the library. She is surprised to learn that 

the deceased was in the middle of an unlikely heist—it seems he was trying to steal one of the

 paintings that had been  in a box in the library’s workroom. Kathleen never knew any of the 

library’s rotating artwork was valuable nd can’t imagine what the dead man wanted with it.

But then an art history expert called in by the police identifies the almost-purloined painting as a 

piece that might have been part of a previous high profile art theft. Owen’s and Hercules’s whiskers 

are already twitching, and events soon make Kathleen realize that whoever killed the wannabe 

art thief has more than  murder on their mind. Kathleen and her clever cats will have to work fast to prevent 

anyone else from dying........

Another excellent entry in this series that always leaves us wanting more!  Who doesn't love a cat, let alone

a magical one!!!! Five Paws

 getting hurt.

We just love this series, and who wouldn't, with not one but two magical cats offering assistance? Kathleen is as

charmingly inquisitive as ever and it's always a kick watching Owen and Hercules lead her to the killer's

identity!  Fans will not be disappointed! Five Paws

FUREVER AFTER

A MAGICAL CATS MYSTERY

BERKLEY; HARDCOVER

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

FIVE PAWS

WE love this series. Who wouldn't, with not one but two magical cats! Kathleen is as inquisitive as ever, trying to find out just 

what was so valuable about the artwork in the library basement that someone would try to steal it!

Owen and Hercules, as always, do an excellent job of luring their human to the solution!  We give this

five paws!    ROCCO AND CHAZZ

Furever After

A Magical Cats Mystery

Sofie Kelly

Berkley; hardcover

September 3, 2024

5 Paws!

ROCCO and Chazz spotlight NO PAW TO STAND ON!

 Merow! today are spotligting Laurie Cass's latest entry in the Bookmobile Cat series, NO PAW TO STAND ON!

There’s no rest for the whiskered as librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, 

have to investigate a poisoning—and a murder—in the newest installment of the national bestselling 

Bookmobile Cat Mysteries.

When a heat wave hits northern Michigan, Minnie, Eddie, and their bookmobile head to the beach to catch 

some rays and some customers. But library business is put on hold when Minnie’s restaurant-owning best 

friend, Kristen, calls. The specialty ice cream cone treat she'd been serving to patrons was sabotaged, 

making some customers horribly sick. Kristen needs Minnie to sniff out the culprit fast, or the restaurant's 

reputation will be destroyed forever.

Minnie and Eddie are hot on the tail of the suspect when an employee from another restaurant is found 

dead. Could the poisoning and the murder be related? It’ll take a feline to catch a felon...

ROCCO:  Definitely one of my favorite series. I might even go so far as to say Eddie is my idol!  

Loves the way he supports MinMinnie in her sleuthing!  I could read this series all day long! Five Paws.

Chazz: I found this series very enjoyable as well. This is my first entry and now I have to read Mama's 

other copies to cat-ch up!  Eddie definitely livens things up, and sometimes Minnie needs somoene to 

watch her back. He's the purrfect sidekick!

NO PAW TO STAND ON

LAURIE CASS

A BOOKMOBILE CAT MYSTERY

BERKLEY/MMPB/AUGUST 6 2024

5 PAWS

ROCCO and Chazz review Laura Childs' PEACH TEA SMASH!

 Merow! Today Chazz and I are spotlighting and reviewing Laura Childs' latest entry in the Tea Shop series, PEACH TEA SMASH!

Murder at an Alice in Wonderland–themed event threatens to send Theodosia Browning through the looking glass in the latest entry in this New York Times bestselling series.

During the Mad Hatter Masquerade, a fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Opera on the grounds of the old Pendleton Grist Mill, Harlan Sadler, husband of Cricket Sadler, the chairwoman, is killed. He’s been hit in the head with a croquet mallet, and his body hung on the chains and paddles of the grist mill. Nobody can figure out why since Harlan was much beloved by everyone. It’s only after Cricket and Delaine beg Theodosia to investigate that she realizes the killer might have mistaken Harlan for his crazy son, Duke. After all, Duke is a slum landlord and recently injured a woman in a boating accident!  Can Theo solve the case before she and her beloved assistant Drayton, get smashed themselves in the process?

ROCCO:  I am always eager to read a Laura Childs  book, especially the Tea Shop series!  I love the interactions between the characters, and the way Theo throws herself into investigating despite the disapproval of her boyfriend Riley.  This book is one of hte best! Non stop action from start to finish!  Readers both old and new will not be disappointed.  It left me definitely hungering for the next one (hint: March!) Five Paws

Chazz:  I'm new to t his whole reviewing thing, also to reading in general merow. All i can say is if all booiks were as intriguing and entertaining as this series, I would  have started reading a long time ago! Definitely a five paw book! I look forward to the next adventure!

This book is out today and we heartily recommend picking up a copy!

PEACH TEA SMASH

A TEA SHOP MYSTERY

LAURA CHILDS

BERKLEY/HARDCOVER

AUGUST 6, 2024

FIVE PAWS!

GIVEAWAY!

Laura will give an autographed copy of PEACH TEA SMASH to one lucky commenter! To enter, just leave your name and email address in our comments section! Chazz will choose the winner at random!  Contest ends midnight, August 20.

Rocco and Chazz review One of You by Lorie Lewis Ham

 Rocco here! Today Chazz and I review a new book by Lorie Lewis Ham, ONE OF YOU.

With her life on the California Coast behind her, Roxi Carlucci is beginning to feel at home in the Tower District—the cultural oasis of Fresno, CA—where she now lives 

where she now lives with her cousin P.I. Stephen Carlucci, her pet rat Merlin, a Pit Bull named Watson, 

and a black cat named Dan. 

She has a new entertainment podcast, works as a part-time P.I., and is helping local bookstore owner Clark

 Halliwell put on the first-ever Tower Halloween Mysteryfest! 

The brutal summer heat is gone and has been replaced by the dense tule fog—perfect for Halloween!

She just wishes everyone would stop calling her the “Jessica Fletcher” of the Tower District simply 

because she found a dead body when she first arrived. But when one of the Mysteryfest authors 

is found dead, she fears she jinxed herself! The Carlucci’s are hired to find the killer before they strike again.

 Will Mysteryfest turn into a murder fest? How is the local gossip website back, 

and what does it know about the death of Roxi’s parents?

Rocco: I found this to be a very entertaining book, as I did the first in this series.  

Roxi is a hoot and of course, who can resist a black cat named Dan?  

Love the California theme with the entertainment tie in.  jthe Halloween killer theme was also good.

 I cant wait to see what that gossip website knows about Roxi's parents! can't wait where Roxi goes from here!

Chazz:  I also enjoyed the book. Ms. Ham has created a memorable sleuth in Roxi, and 

the California entertainment background I found to be very interesting.  

I mean, who has a podcast anand also works as a part time PI with her cousin. 

 I thought the action at the Halloween Mysteryfest was very well thought out and it did remind me 

of episodes of Murder She Wrote.. I'm curious to see where that gossip website goes too!  

A four paw winner!

One of You

A Tower District Mystery Book 2

Mystery Rat B ooks

Amazon; e-book and PB

June 4, 2024

Four Paws

Rocco and Chazz interveiw author Molly MacRae

 Ma-Row!  Today Chazz and I are interviewing author Molly MacRae!

The Boston Globe says Molly MacRae writes “murder with a dose of drollery.” In addition to the Haunted Shell Shop Mysteries, Molly writes the award-winning, national bestselling Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries and the Highland Bookshop Mysteries. As Margaret Welch she writes books for Annie’s Fiction and Guideposts. Molly’s short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and she’s a winner of the Sherwood Anderson Award for Short Fiction.

 

Rocco:  Welcome back to the blog, Molly  It’s been a while since we last chatted! So refresh our memory about your background

MMR:  It has been a while! Nice to be here, again, though. Now I can add retried fake librarian (no MLS degree) to my list of former jobs – former sheltered workshop supervisor, museum director, independent bookstore manager. 

As for the writing – it’s taken off nicely. There are now six books in my Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries, five in my Highland Bookshop Mysteries, two stand-alone mysteries, six books under the name Margaret Welch (four for Annie’s Fiction and two for Guideposts), and a new series debuting June 25^th – the Haunted Shell Shop Mysteries. 

Chazz:  Nice to meet you, Molly!  Tell us a bit about your latest book/series.

MMR: The Haunted Shell Shop Mysteries take place on Ocracoke Island, one of the Outer Banks barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. The books are about Maureen Nash, a storyteller specializing in fables and folklore about shells (she’s also a malacologist – a scientist who studies mollusks), and Emrys Lloyd, the ghost of an eighteenth-century pirate. At the start of Come Shell or High Water, book one, Maureen tells the reader, “On the tail of a hurricane, half-drowned in the chaos of whirlwind, deluge, thunder, and lightning, I washed up on Ocracoke Island.” She immediately corrects herself. Her arrival wasn’t that dramatic, the hurricane was fairly mild, and she got ride over in a friend’s boat. “I was half-drowned,” she says. “But half-drowned by my assumptions, not the storm.”

ROCCO:  How do you construct your plots? Do you outline or do you write “by the seat of your pants”?

MMR: I’m a plotter, because I love a good outline and knowing where I’m going, but my very long and detailed outline is really a very, very rough first draft with room for pantsing along the way.

Chazz:  What are you working on now and what are your future writing plans?

MMR:  I’m eleven days out from the deadline for book two in the series – There’ll be Shell to Pay. I’m at the scream-writing stage. Picture a writer at a keyboard in an old fashioned kiddie car careening down a hill screaming as she types. It’s an exciting way to live.  (Rocco:  Yes, the human often does that as well heh heh heh)

Chazz:  What advice do you have to offer to an aspiring author?

Read, write, revise, repeat. Network with other writers. Persevere.

Rocco:  What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

MMR: For some reason, when I did a program and signing at a very nice arts council in Michigan, I thought it would be a good idea to do something fun to illustrate the writer’s life. I said to the audience, mainly senior citizens, “Do you know what the best thing about being a writer is?” They shook their heads. I said, “I’ll show you.” To quite a few gasps, I peeled out of the slightly oversized clothes I’d worn, revealing my pajamas and bathrobe, and said, “I get to work in my pajamas.” They loved it but I’m not sure I’ll ever do that again.

Rocco:  What question do you wish interviewers would ask? (And what’s the answer?)

MMR: Q: If I give you your own private writing room that looks like a miniature and very cool library and has a secret door and a window with a window seat – with no strings attached except to write - will you accept?

A: Sure.

 

Thank you for a lovely interview, Molly!

And we’re not done yet – now Molly tackles ROCCO and Chazz’s Fast Five:

• What’s something that’s always in your fridge? Fresh ginger
• If you weren’t a writer, what would you be? When I was little I wanted to be a rabbit and then a Canadian Mountie. Are they still options?
• What’s your favorite part of the day? Meals
• What food do you wish was calorie free? Chocolate
• Holidays: Party at home, or go out for a glam dinner? Home with family gathered

Folks you can find Molly at:

Website http://www.mollymacrae.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/molly.macrae.9/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mollymacraewriter/

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/MollyMacRae/

X https://x.com/MysteryMacRae

 

Giveaway time!

Molly will give away one hardcover of Come Shell or High Water to one lucky commenter.  To enter, leave your name and email addy in our comments column!  US residents only please!  Winner will be selected at random. Contest ends midnight, July 16^th!

 

Rocco and Chazz's June and July Cozy Berkley Reviews!

Ma-Row!

Here are our reviews on the Berkley cozy offerings for June/July!

First up:

FONDANT FUMBLE

JENN MCKINLAY

MMPB

RELEASE DATE:  JUNE 4TH

FOUR AND A HALF PAWS

The Fairy Tale Cupcakes crew helps two professional football players in knead when the athletes are suspected of murder and their dream of opening a bakery is crushed, from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.

Professional football players Keogh Graham and Tyler Matthews want to open a Fairy Tale Cupcakes franchise. They’re spending the off-season in Scottsdale working in Mel’s bakery, learning about the business and how to bake show-stopping cupcakes. The popular athletes bring a boom of customers to the store as football fans flock to see the friends mixing batter and piping icing.

Everyone’s excited the athletes are pursuing their dream of owning a bakery—except for those who fear the players will ditch football for fondant and retire early from professional sports. The angry naysayers include their team owner and Keogh's sports agent, along with some very vocal fans.

When the owner of their team, the Arizona Scorpions, is found dead on the floor of their new bakery following an argument with Keogh, the pros become prime suspects. As the investigation heats up, Mel and the rest of the cupcake bakery crew must step up and prove their franchise owners are innocent before it’s game-over for the new bakers.

Rocco's Review:  Jenn McKinlay works in our home state of Arizona with pride in this latest instalment of the cupcake mysteries!   As usual, Mel and the crew deliver with an intriguing mystery and lots of twisty turns!  Definite must summer read! Four and a half paws!

REQUIEM FOR A MOUSE

CAT IN THE STACKS MYSTERY

MIRANDA JAMES

JUNE 25TH; HC

FIVE PAWS

Librarian Charlie Harris and his ever-intuitive feline friend Diesel must catch a killer in a deadly game of cat and mouse where no one is who they seem to be...

At last, Charlie and Helen Louise’s wedding is only a month away. They’re busy preparing for the big day, and the last thing Charlie needs is a new mystery to solve. Enter Tara Martin, a shy, peculiar woman who has recently started working part-time at Helen Louise’s bistro and helping Charlie in the archive. Tara isn’t exactly friendly and she has an angry outburst at the library that leaves Charlie baffled. And then she abruptly leaves a catered housewarming party Charlie’s son Sean is throwing to celebrate his new home in the middle of her work shift. Before ducking out of the party, Tara looked terrified and Charlie wonders if she’s deliberately trying to escape notice. Is she hiding from someone?

When Tara is viciously attacked and lands in the hospital, Charlie knows his instincts were correct: Tara was in trouble and someone was after her. With the help of his much beloved cat, Diesel, Charlie digs deeper, and discovers shocking glimpses into Tara’s past that they could never have predicted. Will they catch the villain before Charlie’s own happily ever after with Helen Louise is ruined?

Chazz's Review:  Firstoff, i have to say this is one of my favorite series! I love Charlie, and I love Diesel!  and the supporting characters aren't bad either!  the cover art is always outstanding, and this one is a particularly good likeness of Diesel!

As usual, Charlie's instincts are on point and he does what he and Diesel do best - sniff out clues!  I liked the way Ms. James interspersed the mystery with Charlie's upcoming nuptuals. Do they get hitched????? Read the book! Five paws!!!!!

A CONTROVERSIAL COVER

Booktown Mystery

Lorna Barrett

HC; 7/16/24

five paws

When a famous children's author is murdered at the library, Tricia Miles has to find the killer before it's too late in the latest entry to Lorna Barrett's New York Times bestselling Booktown series.

Tricia Miles is ready to close the book on all her amateur sluething—she's tired of finding dead bodies and being accused of murder. But even the best laid plans often go awry.

Stoneham is all abuzz when Lauren Barker, a famous children's book author, arrives for an event at the local library. Lauren is a Stoneham native, and her new book strikes some members of the town as controversial. But when Lauren is found strangled to death after an altercation at the event, the plot twist throws Tricia right back into the middle of things.

Who could possibly have wanted Lauren dead? Was it Dan Reed, who had to be thrown out of the signing for spouting conspiracy theories and causing a disturbance? Stella Kraft, Lauren’s high school teacher, who thought of the author as a protégé—something Lauren violently disputed? Or the mystery man who spoke to Lauren just before she was found dead? With the suspect count climbing higher and more information about Lauren's past coming to light, will Tricia be able to give this story a happily ever after?

Rocco's Review:  Booktown mysteries are always a treat - we love the delightfully quirky characters Ms. Barrett has created, and in spite of her misgivings, Tricia Miles always proves to be a worthy sleuth.  In this instalment she's swearing off detecting - until a murder at the local library sucks her in!  Lots of twisty turns in this one; fans of this series will not be disappointed. And may I say I for one am glad that Tricia didn't give up sleuthing!  Five Paws