ROCCO'S Cozy Reviews for October!

  Ma-Row! Let's see what's in store for October!

SUGAR PLUM POISONED by Jenn McKinlay

Berkley Mass Market; October 10, 2023

 

It’s Christmastime in Scottsdale in the newest entry in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay. According to Kirkus Reviews, “Multitudes of motives make it difficult to catch the killer in this sweet tale.” When country music star Shelby Vaughn arrives in town for a concert series, she hires her old friend Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to cater for her VIP guests. It’s a sweet gig, and despite Shelby’s heated argument with her manager, Mel and the crew decide to make the best of it. But things turn sour wen Shelby’s manager is found dead, clutching a cupcake and a bit of fabric from a Santa suit. When all suspicions lead back to Shelby, Mel and Angie stand up for their friend, determined to prove her innocence before she’s frosted for a crime she didn’t commit.

We love any book by Jenn McKinlay!  This one has a "sweet" plot and lots of action!  Followers of this series will not be disappointed! Five paws!

 

 

BAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT by Sarah Fox

Berkley Mass Market; October 10, 2023

 

The trades have already weighed in on USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox’s second entry in the True Confections Mystery series, with Kirkus Reviews calling the novel, “As sweet as its many sugar-infused puns.” Winter has arrived in Larch Haven, Vermont, bringing with it holiday cheer, lots of snow and the annual “Baking Spirits Bright” holiday baking competition.  As Becca preps to enter an edible model of Larch Haven, complete with a cake mountain, gingerbread cottages, and sugar-glass canals, she’s up against [some sort of candy pun for stiff competition]. The competition quickly heats to a boiling point, with flaring tempers and mysterious happenings. When one of the entrants is found dead, stabbed with Becca’s chocolate chipper, Becca tries to salvage the season by finding the killer. But the heat is on, and Becca is in danger of getting burned.

Can we ever get enough of culinary mysteries?  Lots of baking ones this month, and Sarah Fox shines with this tale.  Four and a half paws

 

 

THE TWELVE BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS by Kate Carlisle

Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover; October 24, 2023

This is the first ever Christmas mystery in the New York Times bestselling Bibliophile Mystery series, ripe with “pleasing characters and vivid descriptions of glorious Scotland” according to Kirkus Reviews! In this Christmassy chapter Brooklyn and Derek travel to Scotland for business and pleasure—to bare witness to their dear friend Claire’s marriage to her [dashing beau] and to solve a little mystery in the castle library; twelve very rare, very important books have gone missing! Once in Scotland, as Brooklyn starts working on the mystery of the missing books, bumps in the night lead to the deaths of two guests, and Brooklyn and Derek will have to race to find a killer and a book thief in this tricky Christmas tale.

This series is a personal favorite of ours!  We love reading about Brooklyn's adventures and solving the mysteries (always book related) right along with her and her hunk of a husband, Derek!  And in meow opinion, never too early to read about Christmas!  Not necessary to read others in the series to catch up but it is highly recommended! Five Paws.

 

 

 

PAWS TO REMEMBER by Sofie Kelly

Berkley Prime Crime Hardcover; on sale October 17, 2023

 

Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her enchanted felines return in the latest installment in the New York Times bestselling Magical Cats series. Cat lovers and fans of the series will be pleased, as Kirkus Reviews notes the novel is “Heavy on the world of continuing characters, with a few cat moments thrown in as crowd pleasers.” When a water leak repair results in a body being found behind the walls of the store run by the artists’ co-op that Kathleen's friend Maggie is part of, everyone is completely mystified as to whose body it is and who hid it there. But as the dust settles, Kathleen's boyfriend, Detective Marcus Gordon, begins to suspect that the body could belong to a young woman who disappeared more than thirty years ago. When a friend with a connection to the young woman asks Kathleen to look into the circumstances around the disappearance, she and her cats—who have a special feline talent for catching felons—find themselves digging up secrets that at least one person in Mayville Heights would much prefer stay buried.\

Another fine entry in this tried and true series.  I mean one magical cat is phenomenal but two!!!!!!  And we love solving the mysteries right along with Kathleen. Once again, it can be read as a standalone, but we highly recommend starting with book one!  Five Paws!

ROCCO SPOTLIGHTS MURDER AND MAMON

 This fall, readers can expect the next deliciously deadly installment in Agatha Award-winning author Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries. 

Lila Macapagal lives in small town Shady Palms, Illinois, where she and her relatives run Tita Rosie’s Kitchen. They serve delicious Filipino dishes, and they solve crimes on the side. In MURDER AND MAMON (Berkley Prime Crime Trade Original; on sale September 19, 2023), the fourth highly anticipated novel in Manansala’s series, homicide follows Lila and her aunties to the grand opening of their new laundromat—and Lila will have to air out everyone’s dirty laundry to find the killer.

 

The grand opening of Lila’s family’s new laundromat quickly turns from celebration to tragedy when the building is vandalized and a relative who recently came to visit from the Philippines is found dead inside. The Calendar Crew (Lila’s crime-solving aunties, April, Mae, and June) have stuck their noses into everybody’s business for years. Now, the tables have turned as Lila must pry into the Calendar Crew’s lives to figure out who has a vendetta against the aunties and stop them before they strike again.

 

Manansala’s books embrace the conventions of the cozy genre while also expanding them, introducing readers to a modern Filipino heroine who faces real, relatable issues as she solves mysteries. 

 

MURDER AND MAMON is perfect for readers of Jesse Q. Sutanto and Roselle Lim, and for fans of cozy mysteries and romantic comedies.

 

ROCCO reviews Laura Child's HONEY DROP DEAD!

 Laura Childs’s HONEY DROP DEAD (Berkley Hardcover; August 8, 

2023), the latest installment her beloved New York Times bestselling Tea Shop Mystery series! Kirkus Reviews raves, “Historic Charleston and cream teas are a perfect backdrop for genteel murder and mayhem.”

 

Murder and political intrigue are teatime guests as chaos erupts at tea maven Theodosia Brownings elegant event. A phony beekeeper sprays toxic smoke at the guests, and then a shot rings out. Osgood Claxton III, a candidate for state legislature, is dead. As Theodosia investigates, against the pleas of her friends, she learns there are many people who might want to see the politico dead, and uncovered secrets threaten to turn this tragic event into a political disaster.

ROCCO's Review:

Once again we are treated to the investigative prowess of Theodosia Browning and her inimitable sidekick Drayton!  the notion of a phony beekeeper is certainly original and a departure from something that Theodosia has investigated before.  Theo indulges in her favorite past time:  snooping around, and Drayton is a loyal, if at times hesitant, assistant!  Theo whittles down the list of suspects in her usual fashion and provides an enjoyable read.  Those not famiiar with the series can easily pick it up, but once you get hooked on Theo you will want to read all of her adventures from the beginning!  The recipes at the back of the book are always a nice bonus!   The ending is in my opinion the most dramatic and unexpected one yet!  Can't wait to see how Theo and Riley's relatonship continues to progress going forward. A definite five paws!

GIVEAWAY!

Laura Childs has donated a copy of HONEY DROP DEAD as a giveaway to one lucky commenter! To enter, leave your name and e-mail address in our comments section below!  ROCCO's brother Maxx will select one lucky winner at random form the entries (U.S. only, please)  Contest ends midnight, Saturday September 2nd.

ROCCO' S AUGUST COZY REVIEWS!

Ma-Row!  Here are my cozy reviews for August!

Starting off with an old favorite:

A TROUBLING TAIL

Laurie Cass

Bookmobile cat mystery

MMPB/Berkley/8/1/23

Five Stars!

When the owner of a local candy store is murdered, librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat, Eddie, prepare to find the sweet spot to solve a crime.

The charming town of Chilson, Michigan, is beautiful in the spring, and local librarian Minnie and her cat Eddie are delivering great reads far and wide on one of the first warm days of the year. But a chill sweeps through them when they discover that one of their favorite patrons, the local candy store owner, has been found murdered. Although Minnie can't understand who could have a motive to murder such a kind man, she determines that the sticky problem isn't hers to solve.

However, when rumors start flying around town and the police have no leads, Minnie decides to throw her investigative hat into the ring. The more Minnie investigates, the less certain she is that the victim's past is as wholesome as his reputation. But Minnie has plenty of experience unearthing inconvenient truths, and she and Eddie won't rest until they determine how the candy store owner met his bitter end.

We never tire of the adventures of Minnie and her delightful tabby cat Eddie, even after 11 volumes!  Even though Minnie does the heavy lifting it's Eddie who steals the show!  New and old fans alike will fall in love Five stars

A DEADLY DEDICATION

Margaret Louden

Open Book Mystery

MMPB/August 1, 2023/ Four and a half stars

When murder taints writer-in-residence Penelope Parish’s charming British bookshop, she must follow the clues to catch a killer before tempers boil over.
 
Penelope Parish thought she’d turned the page on her amateur sleuthing days but when the owner of Upper Chumley-on-Stokes’ proposed first high-end gourmet shop is poisoned, the American novelist starts to wonder if she and her quaint British town are in for another rewrite. It turns out that not everyone was a fan of Simeon Foster’s farm-sourced charcuterie and imported pastries—many of the locals were outraged by the potential new competition.
 
With a full menu of suspects on her hands, this just might be Penelope’s toughest case yet. Luckily, her friends at the Open Book are there to help with every twist of the poisoned pen.

A nice mystery, good for a rainy day, with a plucky sleuth, good characters and a charming cat. Who could ask for more?

HONEY DROP DEAD

LAURA CHILDS

A TEA SHOP MYSTERY

HC/8/8/23/ FIVE STARS

Theodosia’s Honey Bee Tea was an elegant affair set in Charleston’s new Petigru Park amid newly planted native grasses and a community beekeeping project. But when a phony beekeeper shows up and sprays toxic smoke at the guests, the party erupts in chaos. Worse yet, a shot rings out and Osgood Claxton III, candidate for state legislature, falls to the ground—dead.

Holly Burns, the gallery owner who asked Theodosia to cater the tea, is understandably heartbroken. A man is dead, her guests are angry and injured, and the paintings that were on display are left in tatters. When the police don’t seem to have a clue, when old-line politicos don’t want questions asked, Holly begs Theodosia to run a shadow investigation and help restore her gallery’s good name.

Between hosting a Wind in the Willows Tea and a Glam Girl Tea, Theodosia questions everyone that had a bone to pick with Claxton. This includes Booker, an angry outsider artist; Lamar Lucket, Claxton’s political opponent; and Mignon Merriweather, the dead man’s soon-to-be ex-wife. But the investigation becomes a political hot potato following a second murder, the revelation of a messy affair, a chase through a swamp, and a vandalized shop.

Note:  This is the synopsis.  We will review this book on a separate posting in August!

Theodosia’s Honey Bee Tea was an elegant affair set in Charleston’s new Petigru Park amid newly planted native grasses and a community beekeeping project. But when a phony beekeeper shows up and sprays toxic smoke at the guests, the party erupts in chaos. Worse yet, a shot rings out and Osgood Claxton III, candidate for state legislature, falls to the ground—dead.

Holly Burns, the gallery owner who asked Theodosia to cater the tea, is understandably heartbroken. A man is dead, her guests are angry and injured, and the paintings that were on display are left in tatters. When the police don’t seem to have a clue, when old-line politicos don’t want questions asked, Holly begs Theodosia to run a shadow investigation and help restore her gallery’s good name.

Between hosting a Wind in the Willows Tea and a Glam Girl Tea, Theodosia questions everyone that had a bone to pick with Claxton. This includes Booker, an angry outsider artist; Lamar Lucket, Claxton’s political opponent; and Mignon Merriweather, the dead man’s soon-to-be ex-wife. But the investigation becomes a political hot potato following a second murder, the revelation of a messy affair, a chase through a swamp, and a vandalized shop.

This next one debuted in May, but we love this series so we're including it here!

THE DIVA DELIVERS ON A PROMISE

Domestic Diva Series

Krista Davis

HC/Kensington/May 23, 2023/five Stars

 In the New York Times bestselling author’s enormously popular culinary cozy series featuring a young Martha Stewart in the making, the maven of entertaining and sometimes sleuth Sophie Winston. Delicious recipes and a picturesque setting make this a delight for fans of Diane Mott Davidson and M.C. Beaton as Sophie must see through the lies of the potential suspects and try to keep a killer at a convention of ghost kitchens from making a ghost of one of the guests…

Sophie is busy handling the first ever convention of the Association of Ghost Kitchens—restaurants that do delivery only—but she’s taking a little time out for a lunch meeting organized by A Healthy Meal. The group is dedicated to providing meals for children in need, and as a bonus, it’ll give Sophie the perfect opportunity to ogle the lavish Old Town home of socialite Geraldine Stansfield. Gerrie’s dining room is impeccably furnished, the table laden with gleaming crystal and prized china. If it weren’t for the dead man lying on the floor, everything would be perfect . . .

No one knows the victim—or at least, no one claims to. But a little snooping by Sophie reveals links to many local notables. In fact, not only was he a client of Geraldine’s late husband, an attorney—every member of the Stansfield clan knew the deceased. But only one knows what he was doing in Gerrie’s

house.

Gerrie’s elegant abode looks spotless, but there’s plenty of dirty linen in those family closets. Now Sophie will have to get the killer to come clean before he spoils another appetite—for good . . .

Sophie solves a mystery, makes delicious food, interacts with Natasha and may or may not be getting back with her ex-husband.  Sounds like a good time to us!!!!!  Love this series which never disappoints. So glad Kensington picked it up!!!!!  Five paws!  

ROCCO'S JULY COZY REVIEWS

 Ma-row! July's cozies are short but sweet!

SCAREDY CAT

SOFIE RYAN

SECOND CHANCE CAT MYSTERY

BERKLEY, MMPB

JULY 4, 2023 FIVE STARS

Secondhand store owner Sarah Grayson and her affectionate rescue cat, Elvis, will scare up a few leads to find a killer in the newest installment of this captivating New York Times bestselling series.

 
After a long, cold, and snowy winter, it seems as though spring may be arriving early in Maine. Sarah Grayson is busy at her store, Second Chance, and she’s looking forward to an afternoon break from the hustle and bustle, tagging along to the North Harbor Spring House Tour with her friend Detective Michelle Andrews.
 
But it turns out one of the houses has a haunted history, and when a ghost hunter is found dead on the premises, Sarah knows the best way to uncover the killer/to solve the mystery is by investigating the not-so-dearly departed. With help from Elvis and Charlotte’s Angels, the crew of senior citizen private detectives who work out of the store, she’ll close the case on this creepy crime.

We love Sarah and Elvis, and Charlotte's Angels are always a riot!  I look forward to a new entry every year in this series that never fails to entertain! Five Paws.

A QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER

LORNA BARRETT

BOOKTOWN MYSTERY

BERKLEY; HC; JULY 27, 2023

FIVE PAWS

The murder of a local contractor may be the final nail in the coffin for Tricia Miles in the latest entry to Lorna Barrett's New York Times bestselling Booktown series.

It's a busy summer in Booktown. Contractor Jim Stark is in great demand: he’s overseeing a number of projects, including Angelica Miles's newly constructed building on Main Street, finishing up the new brew pub, and gutting a stone mansion off Main Street that Angelica bought to be the world headquarters for Nigela Ricita Asssociates. It’ll house office space where her marketing staff and the rest of the NR Associates clerical personnel will work.

Tricia Miles and Angelica arrive at the mansion before their workday to see how the construction is going. They find the place unlocked and Stark’s right-hand man, Sanjay Arya, dead—bludgeoned to death. The loss of the contractor’s top man threatens all the projects in the works, which would effectively ruin the expensive marketing plan that the Chamber of Commerce has been working. Is Jim a suspect? (He’d be stupid to kill the person he depends on to keep the projects going.) But Stark also thinks his wife, who was very chummy with Sanjay, might have been cheating on him with the second-in-command, making him a likely suspect.

Once again Tricia finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, but can she find the killer before he or she has the chance to bring the hammer down?

Tricia is in trouble again!  It's getting to be a habit, but an enjoyable one for hte reader as we follow Tricia tracking down anohter killer.  This delightfully quirky series never disappoints! It is always entertaining and we can see why it's lasted so long!  Exceptional character development - although it would be nice if Tricia hooked up with a decent suitor, for once!!!!! Another five paw mystery this month! 

PURRDAY INTERVIEWS PRINCESS FUZZYPANTS!

In anticipation of the newest Pet Shop Mystery debuting Tuesday, DEATH STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT ROCCO turns the interview reins over to Purrday so he can ask the tough questions of Pet Shop Mystery's newest character:  Princess Fuzzypants.

As many of you know, the character is based on the real life fantabulous cat, Princess Fuzzypants, who has her own blog and Facebook page!  Here is Purrday' interview with the real life Princess:

Purrday:  Merow, Princess, we are honored to have you here!             Princess: It is  my pleasure, Purrday.    Purrday: Princess, how did you feel when you learned that you were to be a character in the human T.C. Lotempio's next Pet Shop mystery?             Princess: Purrday, I was absolutely thrilled when I learned I would be a character and then when I found out I would be your girlfriend, I was over the moon. Purrday:.  Would you say becoming a fictional character has changed your life in any way?             Princess: *Blushes*. Some of my furriends tell meow that I have always been a star but now I really do feel special.  My fans are so excited too.  I feel like I am sharing the experience with them.  It has, however, not brought any more treaties or stinky goodness. Purrday: Aside from the Pet Shop mysteries, do you have a favorite series that features a pet?         Princess:  OMG! This is hard because I have so many.  Of course I love Nick and Nora but my first one is still one of my favourites and that is Midnight Louie or the PI with shivs.  He always made meow laugh.  Currently I never miss Diesel in the Cat in the Stacks series. Purrday:  Who would you choose to be stranded on a desert island with: Myself or Nick Charles the cat from the Nick and Nora mysteries         Princess: Another toughie.  Could I have both of mew? Purrday:  Do you have any literary aspirations of your own?             Princess:  I actually do.  I would love to find a publisher or somepawdy who could help meow share my stories and thoughts with the greater public.  I think mew will agree I have some impawtant things to say. PUrrday:   If DEATH STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT should ever be made into a movie, would you consider playing yourself?  and who do you see in the roles of Shell and Gary?         Princess:  I would love to have this made into a movie and naturally mew and I would play ourselves.  Casting the humans…hmm *ponders*.   I know Momma would choose Henry Cavell if she could play Shell but she is way too old.   But seriously I think somepawdy like Timothy Oliphant or Ryan Reynolds for Gary and Kelly Reilly or Rachel MacAdams for Shell since Rachel is from my home town.  They have to be funny and charming and still kick butt. Who do mew think it should be?  *Giggles* Purrday:  No actress could compare to you, Princess.  It has been a pleasure to interview you. Princess:  I want to thank mew Rocco and TC for letting meow be part of this.  It has been a blast !

ROCCO's June Cozy reviews!

 Ma-Row!  Here are our June cozy reviews. First up..HISS  ME DEADLY

HISS ME DEADLY

A CAT IN THE STACKS MYSTERY

MIRANDA JAMES

BERKLEY; HARDCOVER; 6/27/23

FIVE PAWS

Perfect for fans of Ali Brandon, Sofie Kelly, and Laura Childs, James’s Cat in the Stacks mysteries deliver a delightful blend of cozy themes that readers love, with a charming, Southern setting and a Librarian sleuth who solves crimes with his trusted fuzzy companion.

 

In this latest installment, Charlie and Diesel must catch a killer before he strikes another deadly note.

 

Charlie Harris remembers Wilfred “Wil” Threadgill as one of the outsiders during high school in Athena. Although Wil was a couple of years ahead of him and his friend Melba Gilley, Melba had a big crush on Wil, who dropped out after his junior year. An aspiring musician, Wil hit the road for California and never looked back. Wil eventually became a star, fronting a band and writing award-winning songs. 

Coming back to Athena to work for two weeks with students in the college music department, Wil is now the big man on campus. Not everyone is happy to have him back, however. His entourage have been the target of several acts of petty harassment. At first they are easy for Wil to shrug off, but the incidents escalate and become more troubling. When one of the band members is killed Charlie worries that Melba, now deeply involved with the man at the center of the attacks, could be in deadly danger. It is up to Charlie and Diesel to find out who hates Wil Threadgill enough to silence his song . . . forever!

Charlie and Diesel are still going strong n their 15th adventure!  they work overtime to make sure their buddy Melba isn't in danger!  Part of the charm of this series is the supporting characters; and, of course, our favorite 'cat in the stacks'. Long live Diesel!  an excellent addition to a long running series that shows no signs of running out of steam. Five paws.

A FATAL ILLUSION

a Lady Darby Mystery

Anna Lee Huber

Berkley; Trade PB

June 20, 2023

four Stars

New parents Lady Kiera Darby and Sebastian Gage look forward to introducing Sebastian’s father to his granddaughter, but instead find themselves investigating an attempt on his life...

Yorkshire, England. August 1832. Relations between Sebastian Gage and his father have never been easy, especially since the discovery that Lord Gage has been concealing the existence of an illegitimate son. But when Lord Gage is nearly fatally attacked on a journey to Scotland, Sebastian and Kiera race to his side. Given the tumult over the recent passage of the Reform Bill and the Anatomy Act, in which Lord Gage played a part, Sebastian wonders if the attack could be politically motivated.

But something suspicious is afoot in the sleepy village where Lord Gage is being cared for. The townspeople treat Sebastian and Kiera with hostility when it becomes clear they intend to investigate, and rumors of mysterious disappearances and highway robberies plague the area. Lord Gage’s survival is far from assured, and Sebastian and Kiera must scramble to make the pieces fit before a second attempt at murder is more successful than the first.

Another solid entry in a long running series. Four paws.

HOT POT MURDER

LA Market Night

Jennifer Chow

Berkley/MMPB

June 6, 2023

Four stars

Trouble is brewing for cousins Yale and Celine Yee after a hot pot dinner gets overheated and ends in murder in this second novel of the L.A. Night Market series by Jennifer J. Chow.

Yale and Celine Yee’s food stall business is going so well that they’ve been invited to join an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. The members gather together for a relaxing hot pot feast…until Jeffery Vue, president of the group, receives a literal shock to his system and dies. 

Everyone at the meal is a suspect, but the authorities are homing in on family friend Ai Ho, owner of the restaurant where Jeffery was killed—and Yale’s dad is a close second on their list. Yale and Celine step up to the plate and investigate the dinner attendees: the association’s ambitious VP, a familiar frenemy, a ramen king, a snacks shopkeeper, and a second-generation restaurateur. It’s up to the detecting duo to figure out what really happened before their friends and family have to close their businesses for good.

Everyone loves reading about food and when murder is combined so much the better!  Reminiscent of the Gourmet Detective msyteries, Chow delivers a solid plot.  Definitely worth a read! Four paws.