Fortune Funhouse by Jana Deleon--review

 The nineteenth book in the Miss Fortune series has a carnival in town.  While Fortune is focused on eating her weight in funnel cakes, Gertie, Ida Belle and Walter are more interested in riding some rides and exploring the venue, and drag Fortune along.

When Celia, a long-time thorn in Gertie's side, comes running out of the funhouse, screaming, and runs full-tilt into a mirror, knocking herself out, Fortune and friends go into the funhouse to see what caused Celia to panic.  Inside, they find Emmaline LeBlanc, the mother of Fortune's boyfriend, Carter, knocked out on the floor.  While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, Fortune discovers a dead body a few steps away.  She keeps this knowledge to herself until Emmaline is on her way to the hospital, and she and her 

Carter, the deputy sheriff of Sinful, is involved in the case because of his mom's serious injury, so the State Police send Palmer Reed, the worst of their detectives ( a man who has disliked Carter since childhood) to solve the case.  He manages to annoy everyone he meets, and doesn't seem to know how to run a case.  T

This means that Fortune, Ida Belle and Gertie get on the job of solving the case.  

This was a great addition to the series, and I'm looking forward to the next in the Miss Fortune books!

In both my 2021 Reading Challenge, and my 2021 Craving for Cozies, this is number 15.

Gators and Garters by Jana Deleon--review

 This is number 18 in the Miss Fortune series, and Gert, Ida Belle, and Fortune are involved in another mystery.  Ida Belle is finally getting ready to marry Walter, and hires the best caterer in Sinful, Louisiana to do the food.  Shortly after they make the arrangements, the caterer, Molly Broussard, disappears.  
An old friend of Molly's hires the ladies to investigate Molly's disappearance, and they throw themselves into it.  They find out about Molly's abusive childhood, the disappearance/death of her brother, her abusive first husband, and her abusive current boyfriend.
I've enjoyed all of the Miss Fortune books I've read so far, and this is no exception.  The mystery is well written, with plenty of humor, and the characters are memorable.
Looking forward to the next in the series!

This is #14 in both by 2021 Reading Challenge and my 2021 Craving for Cozies Challenge.

It is also "G" in my 2021 Alphabet Soup Challenge.

One Dark and Stormy Knight by Hermione Moon---review

 This book is a little different for me.  The main character, Gwen, is a kitchen witch, who is running a cafe, where she adds beneficial herbs and magic to improve her customer's health and life.  Her mother was also a witch, as is her aunt.  The magic has, in fact, been passed down for several generations.

She is having a strange day, discovering the suit of armor that has been in the cafe for years is inhabited by the spirit of King Arthur.  She also has to deal with a customer who is a woman she had gone to school with, who had ended up stealing her boyfriend and marrying him.  When her classmate ends up murdered just a few minutes later, and she is the one to discover the body, she feels she has to do a little investigating.  

I don't read very many paranormal mysteries, but this one was fairly interesting.  It was a fairly short read, and is the first in a series. I will probably continue to read the books in this series.

This is "O" in my 2021 Alphabet Soup Challenge, and is #13 in both the Reading and Craving for Cozies Challenges. It is also #2--author name doesn't contain A, T, or Y.

Boiled Over by Barbara Ross--review

 I enjoyed this book, and found the plot very interesting. However, I wasn't crazy about switching back and forth from the past to the present, with the chapter headings the only warning.  It actually was a little annoying to start a chapter and realize it took place a month or two before the chapter you just finished reading.
Julia Snowden has temporarily moved back to her hometown to help out with her family's clambake business.  She thinks that it will help the business to serve their food at the Founder's Day celebration, but unfortunately, a dead body is found in their oven.
One of their new, young employees is a suspect, so Julia decides she has to help out by doing a little investigating, while continuing to help out at the Founder's Day event.
She is also dealing with some confused feelings about her boyfriend, and whether she still wants to move back to her high powered job in the city.
I found the book enjoyable, the plot was well thought out, and the romantic part of it wasn't overwhelming.  

This was "B" in my Alphabet Soup Challenge, and #12 in both my 2021 Reading and Craving for Cozies Challenges.

New Challenge--2021 Beachcomber Mystery Reading Challenge

 

 

 

 I've joined Rick Mills 2021  Beachcomber's Challenge, it looks like fun!  I'm going to edit my previous reviews to add this challenge to the appropriate book/books.

There are 4 bags to be filled--Weapons, Crime Scenes, Detectives names (must include letter), and Victims names (must include letter).

New Challenge--Vintage Scattergories by My Reader's Block

I just found this challenge on My Reader's Block blog, and wanted to try it.  Luckily, you can sign up all year, and can count books from January 1. The Challenge is called Vintage Scattergories; Vintage Mystery Challenge 2021.

 

 I did this Challenge back in 2013, and really enjoyed it.  The Challenge is to read books first published either before 1960 (Golden) or 1989 (Silver), and which fulfills certain categories.  Examples include Colorful Crime, with a color in title, or Murder by the Numbers, with a number in the title, or Malicious Men, with a man in the title, and so forth. There are 40 categories, but you only need to read books in 8 of them.

I'm going to try for both the Silver and Gold Challenges.  We'll see how this goes.  I know at least one of the books I've already read will count for the Silver, so that's a start!

Fudge Bites by Nancy Coco--review

 

The seventh book in the Candy Coated Mystery series, published in 2019.  I've enjoyed reading this series. 

Allie McMurphy is the owner of the historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop on Michigan's Mackinac Island. It's late October, when most of the tourists have stopped coming, and the locals put on a Zombie Walk as a fundraiser for charity. 

While it is usually her pup, Mal, who discovers bodies, this time it is her cat, Mella, that comes to her with blood its paws, leading Allie and her friends to a dead body.  Allie decides to help with the investigation, and a bombing follows not too long after.  

 I thought this book was well-written with an interesting plot.  There were enough red herrings, false leads, and several twists and turns to make it hard to put down. 

There was also the usual love triangle, to add a little romance to the mix.  And of course, there are several fudge recipes!

This book is number eleven in my 2021 Craving for Cozies Challenge, as well as my 2021 Reading Challenge.  It is #5 in my Mt. TBR challenge. For Beachcombers Challenge it is in Weapons, Crime Scenes, Detectives, and Victims.

True Confections by Ruth Hartzler--review

This is the first in An Amish Cupcake Cozy Mystery, a new series set in Amish country in Pennsylvania, published in 2019.

The main character is Jane Delight, who was brought up Amish but decided to got out into the world.  When her husband of thirty years divorces her and leaves her with little money, she goes to her twin sister, Rebecca, who owns a cupcake shop.  Rebecca lets Jane rent part of the large apartment above it (to be shared with two elderly sisters, Eleanor and Matilda), and gives her a job in the shop.  Jane enjoys working in the shop, and is looking forward to meeting her elderly roommates when they return from their adventures.

The day Eleanor and Matilda are due to return, a man dies in the shop, and it is investigated as a murder.   Jane and her sister are suspects--Jane more than Rebecca, because Rebecca stayed Amish.  Eleanor and Matilda (who, while elderly, are certainly not OLD) decide the best thing to do is investigate the murder, along with Jane and Rebecca.

I enjoyed this story, and am looking forward to reading more.  It was a well written book, the plot moved along, and the characters were very interesting.

 

This book is number 10 in my 2021 Reading Challenge, as well as my 2021 Craving for Cozies Challenge. 

Around the Year in 52 books #21.  Beachcombers Challenge for Weapons, Crime Scenes, Detectives and Victims

Miss Melville Rides a Tiger by Evelyn E Smith--review

 I've recently read the other books in this series, and this one seems somehow different.  I didn't find it quite as good in some ways, although it was mostly well written, and had a decent if unbelievable plot.  But somehow it just didn't seem as good, or as interesting, or as amusing as the others.   It's still a good read, but to someone who has enjoyed the previous books, this left me not quite as content when I finished.

Miss Melville, a proper high society woman, who is also a skilled assassin, is the main character.  In this story she accidentally gets involved with the mob through one of her high society long time friends.  This causes her some distress and she takes steps to extricate herself.  

At times this seems to have dropped into farce as things happen, and the ending was...odd.  As far as I know, this is the last in the series.

This book is number 9 in both the 2021 Craving for Cozies Challenge, and my 2021 Reading Challenge.

Twelve Deaths of Christmas by Marian Babson--review

 

A stand alone book by Marian Babson.  I've enjoyed every book I've read of hers. I find them easy to read, well written, and no gratuitous sex scenes or grisly details when people die--a nice cozy mystery.

Set in England, in Maude Daneson's rooming house, this book is a little different from her usual.  It is presented from three very different points of view.  First point of view is the narrator, who gives descriptions of the roomers, and shares some of the happenings in the rooming house.  Second point of view is from the murderer's viewpoint, where the crimes and motives are described from the murderer's view, and the last point of view is from the police perspective, where they are trying to solve the murders before more people are killed.

This is a little different than the usual Marian Babson stories, and not quite as an easy read as are many of her other books.  It was still well-written, and very interesting. 

I enjoyed the mystery, and found myself changing my mind several times as to who the murderer was.  

This was number 8 in my 2021 Reading Challenge and my 2021 Craving for Cozies challenge.

It satisfies the Beachcombers Challenge, Weapons. It is also #9 in the Around The Year in 52 Books challenge.

It is T in Alphabet Soup Challenge

Miss Melville's Revenge by Evelyn E Smith--review

 

This is the third in the series, and was first published in 1989

 Miss Melville was raised in high society, rich, and without a care in the world.  Then her father absconded with all of their money.  While her friends in high society remained her friends, they were unaware of how poor she really was.

After years of just getting by, she inadvertently became a paid assassin, which lessened her money woes.  But she still had standards she insisted upon holding--she would only assassinate "bad guys".  After being "discovered" as an artist, she no longer accepted assassination assignments, but found she had a calling for killing.  So she continued on her own, only killing "bad guys".

I enjoyed this series about a middle-aged high society killer, although it is a little strange.

This is number 7 for my Craving for Cozies Challenge, and my 2021 Reading Challenge.

Forever Fudge by Nancy Coco--review

 

This is the sixth in the Candy Coated Mystery Series, published in 2018. I've enjoyed this series featuring Allie Murphy, who has taken over running her late grandfather's historic hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan.  She is a candy maker and has also opened a fudge shop off the lobby of the hotel.  She owns a dog named Mal, who had an instinct for finding dead bodies.  

Mal once again finds a body, and Allie is thrown into the middle of yet another investigation.  The hotel is understaffed, as two of her main workers are off on their honeymoon.  This, coupled with the murder, take up most of her time, but she still has time to be involved in an ongoing love triangle.

I enjoy reading these stories, they are nicely paced and well written. The plot is interesting, and the characters seem like real people and fun to read about.

Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

This book the sixth book of my 2021 Reading Challenge and my Craving for Cozies Challenge. 

 It is also part of my Around the Year in 52 Books Challenge (#25). It is #3 in my Mt. TBR challenge. 

For the Beachcombers Challenge it satisfies, Weapons, and Victims.

The Cat Who Wasn't A Dog by Marian Babson--review

 

 

I've read other books by Marian Babson, and have enjoyed all of them. First published in 2003, this is the sixth book in the seven book series featuring Trixie Dolan and Evangeline Sinclair, semi-retired actresses from the USA, now living in London.

One of Evangeline's very long-time friends, Dame Cecile Savoy, calls Evangeline for emotional support after her elderly dog passes away.  Dame Cecile needs Evangeline and Trixie to go with her while she takes her dog to the taxidermist.  

When they arrive, the door is unlocked, but no one answers the bell.  They wander through the store looking for someone, and Trixie wanders into an office, where she spies a cat in a cage waiting for the taxidermist's art.  She is surprised when the cat moves and isn't actually dead, and then is even more surprised when the taxi driver, Eddie, yells to get out he found a dead body, and then fire comes out of the file cabinet and the wastepaper basket.  She grabs the cat's cage and throws Dame Cecile's cape, which she was carrying, over the cage and runs out.

All four of them jump into the cab and take off, with Dame Cecile totally upset when she discovers that Trixie saved a cat instead of the remains of her dog.  They have to put up with her wailing and complaining for the rest of the cab ride, but first they have to find a pay phone to call in an anonymous tip.  They are relieved they are not involved with the murder.

They are wrong.  They become involved when their long-time cab driver, Eddie, is held by the police as his vehicle was spotted driving away from the taxidermy when it caught on fire. While coming to Eddie's assistance, another body is discovered at a home they are visiting.

This wasn't my favorite in the series, as Evangeline and Trixie don't seem to be as involved in solving the murders as usual.

This book qualifies for # 8 in my ATY in 52 Books

This is also number 5 in my 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge and in my Craving for Cozies along with my Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge--C,

Christmas Calamity at the Vicarage by Emilily Organ--review

 First published in 2019, this is an author I haven't read before.  This book features two older ladies, Mrs. Churchill, who thinks she is a wonderful detective, and her assistant, Miss Pemberley.  The main police presence is Inspector Mappin, who does his best to discourage the ladies.

The book is set in England, sometime after either World War 1 (or possibly World War 2-- I was never one hundred per cent sure). It includes several quirky English characters, including the two lady detectives. It takes place at the local Vicarage, which holds a yearly Christmas party to which the entire village is invited.  

After an argument with several people, including Mrs. Churchill, the local choirmaster is found murdered.  Mrs. Churchill is determined to solve the murder because she is one of the main suspects, and because she wants to show up the police.

 

I really thought I'd enjoy this story, as I love Agatha Christie mysteries, and the Miss Seeton books.  I expected this to be similar, with a more humorous slant. This was more of a parody, but not one that I felt was really fun. I found that, while reading this, I didn't really care if Mrs. Churchill solved the murder, or even if Inspector Mappin did.  I was disappointed in this book.

I might read one more in the series to see if I (or the author) was having an off day, but am not going to make any major effort to do so.

 

This counts for several of my reading challenges this year--the fourth book in both my Craving for Cozies Challenge,  and 2021 Reading Challenge. It is #2 on my MTR Challenge, bought in 2020.

In the Beachcombers Challenge, it satisfies Detectives, and Victims.

Miss Melville Returns by Evelyn E Smith--review

 This is the second in the Miss Melville series. It was first published in 1987. Miss Melville is an artist, who has an interesting past, that she prefers not to talk about.

 Brought up in high society in New York, Miss Melville finds it difficult to be rude to friends, or even acquaintances.  This often puts her in situations she would rather not be in.  

She is giving a speech at a gallery opening, because she did not want to exhibit her paintings there, and felt obligated.  While at the opening, a man dies.  Due to his death Miss Melville becomes involved with several rather odd people, and finds herself curious about the deceased. 

She ends up finding out several things about people she had known for a while, and is disappointed in things they had done, but none the less continues to investigate.

I found this fairly interesting, and will probably read the next in the series.  

This is #3 in my 2021 Goodreads Reading Challenge and in my Craving for Cozies Challenge.