Miz Scarlet and the Holiday Houseguests by Sara M. Barton review

First book I've read in this series, and though it was a little shorter than I thought it would be, it was an interesting read.  Miz Scarlet runs a Bed and Breakfast in Connecticut, but over Christmas she doesn't usually have guests, but is busy with family.

But this Christmas, Miz Scarlet's best friend, Larry ( a female Connecticut State Trooper) is trying to cope with both of her divorced parents wanting to visit over Christmas.  Larry asks Scarlet if her Dad can stay at the Bed and Breakfast, and Scarlet agrees.

Then Larry is involved investigating a teenager's death, and finds out that someone she had put behind bars years ago is on the loose and probably looking for her.  This stress, in addition to worrying about her parents, is making it hard for her to deal with her daughter, so Scarlet suggests the daughter also stay at the Bed and Breakfast, which Larry agrees to.

Shortly after this, Larry's Mom finds out that her Dad is staying at the Bed and Breakfast and has a fit because she is stuck at Larry's house.  So Scarlet invites the Mom to stay, too.

This makes for an interesting story, with a lot going on.  I enjoyed it and will probably read more in the series, although I hope the rest are a bit longer.  I just seemed to breeze through it in no time.

This is part of Cruisin' thru the Cozies .
It is also part of my  Color Coded Challenge--Red
Also fulfills a requirement in the Read Around the USA Challenge--Connecticut

The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters review

This is a stand alone mystery by Elizabeth Peters, first published in 1982.  I believe the first book I read by Elizabeth Peters was probably Die for Love, a Jacqueline Kirby story.  I read another in this series, and then found the Vicky Bliss series, and read a couple of those.  I enjoyed both of these series quite a lot, but when I first read one of her stand alone mysteries (The Jackal's Head), I didn't really care for it, so stayed away from any of her other stand alones, and also stayed away from the Amelia Peabody series.

I eventually read an Amelia Peabody book, and enjoyed it, and read a couple of others in the series as I came across them, so I thought I should give the stand alone mysteries another chance.  I'm really glad I did.

Elizabeth Jones gets the chance to meet her hero, author Margaret Rosenberg, when she offers to help Margaret out when Margaret's secretary is injured while they are all waiting for their baggage after flying to Copenhagen.  Shortly thereafter, Margaret is kidnapped, and a ransom is demanded.

Elizabeth and Margaret's son, Christian, attempt to find Margaret, and get involved in a very unusual kidnapping.  They also manage to do a little sightseeing around Copenhagen, and the region around it, while following the clues.

I enjoyed this book quite a lot.  It was a light-hearted adventure, with a few twists and turns,a healthy dose of humor, and a little romance. 

This is part of my Mount TBR reading challenge.
It is also part of my 2014 Around the World Reading Challenge  Denmark (Europe).
It also is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies challenge
It also qualifies for my 2014 Vintage Mystery BINGO challenge Silver--R (book with place in title)

Murder at Irish Mensa by Clare O'Beara review

This is the first in the Mensa Mystery series.  Mensa is an international organization, the membership consisting of people with a very high IQ.  They have local meetings, and also regional and national conventions.

This story takes place at one of the conventions in Ireland.  The organizer of this particular convention is Cara Cassidy, whose regular job is a Dublin tree surgeon.

The convention takes place in a hotel, which also hosts other guests not a part of Mensa.  During the weekend, one of the guests is killed, and a valuable necklace is missing.

The local police want to keep everyone in place until the crime is solved, but they are unsure as to how long that will take.   When some of the Mensa members become suspects, Cara feels an obligation as organizer to help solve the crime.  She and a few of the other Mensans start their own investigation.

I found the descriptions of the convention, the other members, and the setting to be well-written.  There is a nice mystery to solve, and a little romance.  I enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading others in the series.


This is part of my Read Around the World Challenge.
It is also part of my Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challenge.

Innkeeping With Murder by Tim Myers review

This is the first in the Lighthouse Inn series.  It takes place at the Hatteras Lighthouse Inn located in Elkton Falls, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The innkeeper is Alex Winston, who inherited the Inn from his father.  Although the Inn is just barely making enough money to keep itself running, but Alex is determined to keep and run the Inn, and turns down offers from a local real estate agent to sell out.

Then, one of his guests dies and it turns out to be murder.  Alex is a suspect in the case, and he begins losing paying guests, which he can't afford to do.  So he and his new maid start investigating on their own.

This was a nice, easy read. Quick to finish, and not hard to follow, I found it to be quite enjoyable.  If I come across additional books in the series I will probably read them.


This is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challenge.

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood review

This is the first in the Phryne Fisher mystery series.  It takes place in the 1920s, and the Honorable Phryne Fisher is a woman ahead of her times.  She is independent, very bright, and a sexual being.  She enjoys sex with attractive men, and has no desire to embroil herself in a marriage.

In this story, while living in England, she is asked by a couple to check on their daughter, who seems to become ill whenever her husband is around.  They suspect their son-in-law is poisoning their daughter, and want to know for sure.  The daughter lives in Melbourne, Australia, so Phryne packs up and sails there to start her investigation.

Phryne was born in Australia, and had lived there in poverty until her father inherited a title and a lot of money, and they moved to England.  On her return to Melbourne she remembers how hard it was without any money, and helps out a poor woman who soon becomes her maid.  She also becomes friends with the taxi men who had brought her to the hotel when she arrived, and depends on their assistance with her investigation.

I enjoyed this story, except there was just a little too much information on the sexual activities for me.  The descriptions of the different people she meets, from all walks of life was well done.  She brings the time and the place to life.  The book is well-written, with enough humor to keep you engaged, and an interesting mystery to solve.

I'll be reading additional books in this series!

This is part of my  2014 Around the World Reading Challenge.

The Nature of the Game by James Grady review

This was originally published in 1991 as River of Darkness, but, as the author said in his preface, the perfect name (The Nature of the Game) occurred to him immediately afterwards, so when it was published in 2011 as an e-book, the name was changed.

The book was very interesting, exploring the complex politics of the CIA during the 1960s through 1990.  It seems to be well researched and well written.

I started reading it in early December, but almost immediately put it aside to read when I knew I'd have more time to concentrate on it.  After the holidays, I picked it up again, and found it to be a little confusing, so started reading all over again.

I still found it a little confusing, the story moving between three characters.  However, it was interesting and showed a lot of behind the scenes workings of the CIA, the concern for being reported on, the fear of secrets being revealed and the paranoia that results.

I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in the Vietnam era time frame, the CIA overt operations, or a really good read, but be prepared to pay attention to what is going on!


This is from my TBR pile and the Mt. TBR Challenge.

I, Spy? by Kate Johnson review

This is the first in the Sophie Green Mysteries.  Sophie, British, young, single and working at a local airport, is asked to become an agent of a secret government agency.  A less likely agent you'll never suspect, and yet, she somehow manages to come out (mostly) all right.

I started this story expecting a nice cozy mystery, with a bit of humor.  Yikes, was I wrong.  There is a little too much swearing, a little too much sex, and a little more gore than you would expect to see in a cozy mystery.

But there is a mystery, and it is filled with humor, from the situations Sophie gets herself into, to her remarks, to the whole concept of Sophie being a secret agent.  I started the book, thinking I'd read for 15 or 20 minutes before going to bed.  Several hours later I finished the book, and went to bed much later than I had intended.

I only regret that I had this book in my TBR pile since 2011 and never read it.  I only read it now because I wanted to get some of my backlog of books read, and this was one that had been in the pile for quite a while.

This counts for my  Mt. TBR Reading Challenge.

Trouble in Tawas by Madison Johns review

Trouble in Tawas is the fourth in the Agnes Barton Senior Snoops Mystery series.  It features 72-year-old Agnes Barton and her friend, 82-year-old Eleanor Mason, who investigate various happenings in Tawas, Michigan.

In this story, Sheriff Peterson's father, Hal, goes missing.  A former sheriff himself, Hal suffers from dementia, but hated living in a nursing home, so his son arranged for him to live in an apartment with a paid attendant who was supposed to keep an eye on him.  However, Hal seems to have slipped away, accompanied by his "girlfriend".

Agnes and Eleanor find them in Mt. Pleasant at a casino and end up bringing Hal back to Tawas.  When they arrive at Hal's apartment, they discover his companion, Raul, dead at the foot of the stairs.   They decide to investigate Raul's death.

I enjoyed this story more than some of the others in this series, because it didn't go into such detail on the seniors' love life.  I know that seniors citizens have relationships, and having that mentioned in the stories is fine, like in this one.

What I have trouble accepting is when Agnes goes all hot and bothered to the point she can't think straight and acts like a giddy 14 year old who's never had a boyfriend before.  So this story reads much better and I enjoyed it much more than some of the others.



This is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challenge

The Chocolate Frog Frame-up by JoAnna Carl review

The Chocolate Frog Frame-up is the third in the Chocoholic Mystery series.  The main character is Lee McKinney, who was raised in Texas, but spent summers in Warner Pier, Michigan, with her Aunt Nettie.  During her summers, Lee worked at her aunt's chocolate shop.

After a bad break-up, Lee decides to leave Texas and move to Michigan.  She lives with her aunt, and works as the bookkeeper for the chocolate shop.  She also has a boyfriend, Joe Woodyard, who was a lawyer, but who now works restoring boats.

This story revolves around Hershel Perkins, who has an argument and little fight with Joe at the Post Office, and then goes missing.  When his body is found, Joe is one of the prime suspects, so Lee starts to investigate to clear his name.

I enjoy this series, and this one is no exception.  It is a nice little cozy mystery, easy to read, with interesting characters you want to know more about.



It is also part of my 2014 Read it Again, Sam Challenge.

A Death in China by Carl Hiaasen and Bill Montalbano review

This is the first book I've read by these authors, but it won't be the last. It is riveting, and hard to put down once started. It was first published in 1984, and describes China during that time frame.

The protagonist is Thomas Sutton, who has gone to China with a tour group.  He is a professor of Art at a small college in the U.S.  But in his earlier years he had been an American who had gone into China on a covertmission, and barely escaped with his life.

While sneaking off on his own to explore Peking, he meets an old friend and mentor, David Wang.  While David had been born in China, he had attended school in the U.S. and while he was in the U.S. China underwent several major upheavals and he never returned until that week.  His brother, one year younger than he, and a high ranking official in the Communist Party, had invited him for a visit.

When David returns to Peking from his visit, he is taken ill and dies.  Thomas is asked by the brother to accompany David's body back to America, but Thomas becomes suspicious and tries to get out of it.  before long, he is involved in a situation that will take a lot of luck and skill to get out of.

I enjoyed the suspense and the twists and turns of the plot.  I also thought the characters were well written and believable.  There is a little romance, some flashbacks to the Viet-Nam era, some covert CIA operations, and some sibling rivalry.  Added to that, the intrigue and political maneuvering within China was extremely interesting.




This is part of my 2014 Mt. TBR Reading Challenge--it's been in my TBR list since 11/28/2011, and I'm really glad I finally read it!
It also is part of my 2014 Vintage BINGO Mystery--Silver--V--outside my comfort zone.
It is also part of my Around the World in 12 Books Challenge--China (Asia).

Murder in C Major by Sara Hoskinson Frommer review

This is the first in the Joan Spencer Cozy Mystery series, published in 1984.  Joan, after her husband's death at a relatively young age, with her teenage son, Andrew, has returned to the small town of Oliver, Indiana, where she grew up.

She gets a job managing the local senior center on the advice of a former teacher.  She also joins the local orchestra and takes a part time job as an assistant manager.  During her first rehearsal, one of the oboists falls sick.  After getting to the hospital, he dies from an apparent heart attack.  One of the other musicians suspects he may have been poisoned, and he goes to the authorities with his questions.

The investigation falls to police detective Fred Lundquist.  He is portrayed as a realist police officer, who questions the people around the victim and actually listens to what they say without predetermined ideas as to what has actually happened hampering his investigation.

Joan is not the usual protagonist in this type of mystery.  She isn't trying to show up the police, she is just trying to help Fred with his investigation.  Joan tells him things she has observed, and comments she overhears, and shares some thoughts she has, which Fred listens to.  But she doesn't go out and try to take over the investigation.

I liked this story, and will be reading more by the author.  The mystery was good, the characters were believable, and the flow of the book was smooth.

This is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challege.
It is also part of my 2014 Vintage BINGO Mystery Challenge--Silver--I--Book by author never read before.
It is also one of my  2014 Mt. TBR Reading Challenge.

All Fudged Up by Nancy CoCo review

This is the first in the Candy Coated Mystery series, and the first book I've read by this author.  It features Allie McMurphy, who has inherited a hotel and fudge shop on Michigan's Mackinac Island from her beloved grandfather, Papa Liam.

Allie had known since she was a child that she would one day be running the hotel, and had gone to college with that in mind.  She had just graduated, and the plan had been for her to spend the spring and summer working with her Papa Liam to learn the ropes and he would retire and hand over the business to her after the end of the season.  But the plans changed when Papa Liam unexpectedly had a heart attack while playing cards with friends just a few weeks before the season opening.

Now, in the middle of the preseason renovations, Allie discovers a dead body in the second floor linen closet.  The body is Joe Jessup, who had been in a years long feud with her grandfather, and he has been murdered.

Because of the feud, the islander's start taking sides--Jessop supporters versus McMurphy supporters.  Many of the Jessop supporters believe Allie is somehow to blame for the death, which makes life on the island a little difficult for Allie.

I enjoyed this book, and the descriptions of the island and it's workings.  It had a little romance with various couples involved, there was humor, and there was a cute puppy.

I was a little put off by the fudge recipes included randomly at the end of chapters.The mystery itself was fine, although the ending seemed to be a little off.  I'll read the second in the series when it comes out. 



This is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challenge.
It is also part of the 2014 Color Coded Challenge--A Book with "Brown" or a shade of brown in the title.

Murder and Salutations by Tim Myers (writing as Elizabeth Bright) review

This is the third in the Card-making Mystery series, and is similar to the others.  It is a light, easy read as are most cozy mysteries.  It features Jennifer Shane, the owner of the local hand made card shop, and her "assistant", her Aunt Lillian.

Jennifer is named Businessperson of the Year, which is a surprise to many.  The problem with her winning is that the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, Eliza Glade, is an enemy of Jennifer's sister, Sarah Lynn, and the award is a slam to Sarah Lynn, especially after the announcement detailing why the award was given to Jennifer.

During the awards dinner, it is discovered that someone has been murdered in the kitchen area.The main suspect is Sarah Lynn, as the victim is Eliza, who not only is Sarah Lynn's enemy, but has started an affair with Sarah Lynn's husband.  Jennifer, with Sarah Lynn and Aunt Lillian's help, feels compelled to help her sister out by solving the crime.  This worries Jennifer and Sarah Lynn's brother, Bradford, who also happens to be the local sheriff.

I found this story to be an enjoyable read, and appreciate the relationship between Jennifer, Sarah Lynn, Aunt Lillian, and Bradford.

This is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challenge

In The Heat Of The Night by John Ball review

This book was published in 1965, and a movie and television series was based on it.  I'd seen some of the television series, and enjoyed it, so when I found this book I wanted to read it and compare it with the series.

Wow, totally not the same.  There are some of the same characters--at least with the same names, but different personalities and values.  And the book takes place in Wells, South Carolina, while the T.V. program takes place in Sparta, Mississippi, and represents the attitudes of the 1980s more than the 1960s.

I think the book more accurately portrays the 1960s in the South, and the relationships and attitudes of a lot of the Southern people.  I found the book to have characterizations that were believable, the plot was interesting, and the various actions and reactions were realistic.

I also enjoyed the mystery and its solution.  I also thought the comments and actions of Virgil Tibbs were well thought out, and added to the overall feel of the story.

I will be reading more books by John Ball, and In The Heat Of The Night will be one of the books I will re-read in the future.

This counts towards  2014 Vintage BINGO Silver--L --Book that has been made into a movie.
It also is part of my 2014 Mt. TBR Reading Challenge.

Deadly Greetings by Tim Myers (writinig as Elizabeth Bright) review

This is the second in his Card Making series featuring Jennifer Shane, owner of Custom Card Creations, a new card making shop.  Her assistant is her eccentric Aunt Lillian, who helps her not only with her shop, but with her investigation into the death of one of Jennifers card club members.

This book, like the first in the series, is a light, fun read.  The plot is not too complicated, and the other characters are interesting.  The give and take between Jennifer and her brother, Bradford, who happens to be the local sheriff is believable most of the time, and the friction between Bradford and Aunt Lillian is amusing.


This is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies Challenge .

Invitation to Murder by Tim Myers (writing as Elizabeth Bright) review

I enjoyed this book.  It was a nice cozy, featuring a card making shop and its owner, Jennifer Shane.  She is assisted by her Aunt Lillian, who is a little eccentric, and adds some charm to the story. 

I also enjoy the interaction between Jennifer and her brother, Bradford and her sister, Sarah Lynn.  The relationship between Jennifer's brother and their aunt is interesting, also.

Looking forward to the next in the series.

This is part of my 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies.

High Midnight by Stuart Kaminsky review

This is the sixth in the Toby Peters mystery series, published in 1981.  I've read several of the others and enjoyed them, and while I also enjoyed this one, I found it to be a little less enjoyable than many of the others.  It seemed to move a little slower, and there were characters that didn't seem to really belong in the story.

This one featured Gary Cooper, and had appearances by Babe Ruth and Ernest Hemingway to add to the story.  Added to the celebrity characters were several gangsters to make Toby's life a little more interesting.

The plot was interesting, and I find that the various bits of 1940s trivia adds to the feel of the story.  I also like Kaminsky's portrayal of both Gary Cooper and Babe Ruth.  I'm not sure about Ernest Hemingway's portrayal, it seems a little bit less real somehow.

This counts towards my Mt. TBR Reading Challenge.
Also counts for the 2014 Vintage BINGO challenge Silver--E--Book with time in title
And for the 2014 Color Coded Challenge Shades of Blue

Never Cross A Vampire by Stuart Kaminsky review

The fifth in the Toby Peters series features Bela Lugosi.  This is my favorite so far in the series, with Toby trying to work on two different cases, one concerning threats to Bela Lugosi and involving vampires, and the other concerning writer William Faulkner, who is being accused of murder.

I particularly enjoyed the beginning of the story, when Toby joins Lugosi in the basement of an old movie house filled with coffins and several wanna-be vampires.  The vampire-types all seem to be off a little, especially the one with the plastic fangs that make it difficult for him to talk.

How Toby manages to follow both cases, and finds a thread that links the two cases together is interesting, and the book was fun to read.

This is part of my 2014 Vintage BINGO Challenge  Silver-S--Entertainment World
It also counts in the 2014 Mt. TBR Reading Challenge.

Missing in Mudbug by Jana DeLeon review

This is part of the Ghost-in-law series that takes place in Mudbug, Louisiana.  One of the main, and yet oddest, characters is the late Helena, who had been murdered previously.  Only a few select people can see her, among them her former daughter-in-law, Maryse.  In life, Helena had been hard to get along with; in death, she is definitely one of the odder characters in this story.

I've enjoyed reading all of the Ghost-in-law books, and this is no exception.  Raissa, FBI agent and friend to Maryse, is kidnapped, and her husband, Luke is found by the side of the road seriously injured and unable to tell them what happened. The FBI agents brought in to solve the crime do not want to get the local Sheriff involved, but are unable to make any headway on the crime on their own.  So the local Sheriff and the local game warder team up with assistance from Maryse and Helena to help find Raissa.

The story is a little off-beat, a light read, but very enjoyable.  I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

This is part of my 2014 Mount TBR reading challenge, and the 2014 Cruisin' Thru the Cozies challenge.

The Yellow Room by Mary Roberts Rinehart review

This is the first mystery I've read by Mary Roberts Rinehart, but I will be looking for more.  This was published in 1945, and takes place during WWII.  The main character, Carol Spencer, is asked by her mother to open their summer house in Maine, when her maid discovers the charred remains of a woman in the upstairs linen closet.  A former federal agent, Greg, is staying nearby while recuperating from injuries suffered in the war, and involves himself in solving the crime, with a lot of help from Carol.

I liked that Carol is bright, and not afraid to show her intelligence during the investigation.  I also enjoyed the mystery itself, which is intermingled with the romance developing between Greg and Carol.

I will be reading more my Mary Roberts Rinehart.  I hope they are all as enjoyable as this was.



This book qualifies for a couple of challenges. 
The 2014 Mount TBR Challenge, the 2014 Cruisin'  Thru the Cozies Challenge & the 2014 Vintage Mystery BINGO Challenge--Gold--G  Book with a color in the title.  Also the 2014 Color Coded Challenge--#3. A Book with Yellow in the title.

The Wrong Rite by Alisa Craig (Charlotte MacLeod) review

This is the last in the Madoc Rhys series of mysteries.  Madoc and Janet travel to Wales for Madoc's great uncle's 90th birthday celebration, bringing their baby daughter with them.  They get to visit with Madoc's extended family, including a few he isn't all that happy to include.

While there, Madoc discovers an old family retainer has been attacked on the morning of the huge celebration.  He and his uncle take care of the old man, but decide not to say anything to spoil the party.
However, during the party there is a terrible accident, and a distant cousin dies.After investigation, it is concluded that the death was not an accident.

Madoc is convinced to help with the murder investigation, and discovers there is a lot more to investigate than just the death.  He finds it necessary to revisit a crime from the past that involves his family, and to investigate a possible burglary.

I enjoyed this book, and the whole series.  I am sorry there aren't more, I would have loved to see more interaction between Madoc, Janet, Dorothy and the rest of Madoc's family, especially his brother.

This is a book in my Read It Again Sam Challenge