The Queen's Accomplice ★★★½ by Susan Elia MacNeal

Maggie Hope is back in London and working at the SOE where new female recruits seem to be disappearing.  She is also waiting for her half-sister Elise to be rescued from Nazi Germany.

MI6 recruits her to help with tracking and stopping the "Blackout Beast" who is copying Jack the Ripper's murders - the victims are the missing SOE agents.

Maggie's intelligence and determination carry through the book reacquainting us with old friends and old enemies.

I love the way that Maggie is drawn into different areas of the war effort through this series but in this one, it's the first time I didn't understand the title.

Series/ Progress: Maggie Hope 6/6
DATE READ: Sept 12 - October 1
NO. OF PAGES: 368
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Rosalia's Bittersweet Pastry Shop ★★★★½ by Rosanna Chiofalo

First of all I loved this story.  It was rich and full of the flavor of the love of baking and nuns life complete with the love of God as well as their fellow man.  It could have been dark and depressing and instead it was filled with light and love and hope.

The story transports the reader back in time to a period when rape victims were faced with blame and their families had to live with shame.  Rosalia is a young woman who becomes the object of an obsession by a creepy youth who eventually kidnaps her, rapes her and forces her to send a letter to her family saying that she ran away willingly.  When she is found  by the nuns abandoned in a cave, bruised and naked, she is unable to remember her name and where she is from. The nuns nurse her back to living and teach her to bake in their pastry shop.  Eventually her memory returns but when she is taken back to her village, her family have moved on because the shame related to her disappearance.

Rosalia returns to the convent but continues to search for her family believing that one day she will be reunited with them.

The depth of emotion that is related in this story was  overwhelming at times but the reader is rewarded throughout by the beautiful story telling and characters.


DATE READ: June 5 - June 11
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Tea Cups and Carnage ★★★½ by Lynn Cahoon

South Cove is preparing for a summer weekend festival as well as welcoming a new member to their business community. Jill from Coffee,Books & More will be using their mobile facilities for the first time in town by the beach to garner the sales from the festival goers.

The festival seems to have brought some unwholesome people to town including a biker who nearly runs down Aunt Jackie.  Her injuries cause a bit of a snafu for the staffing of the coffee shop as well as the Food truck.  At the same Jill has run into a dilemma due to a missing check which has been cashed and the money is not in her account.

! An unknown visitor's murder seems to be connected to the new Businesswoman, but Jill has promised not to get involved - SURE!

I really love this series - the characters are so realistic and fun.  I'd love to get a chance to go to CB&M and I don't even drink coffee!

Series/ Progress: Tourist Trap Mystery 7/7
DATE READ: April 19 - April 22
NO. OF PAGES: 192
Type of Book e-book
SOURCE: NetGalley

Clouds in my Coffee] ★★★★ by Julie Mulhern

Ellison Russell has been having a rough few months - finding dead bodies including her husband, she feels a bit put upon when her mother insists that she attend the fundraiser and it doesn't get better when she is nearly killed by a falling statue.   Add in unwanted houseguests (her quirky aunt and selfish sister) and Ellison has her hands full with even more near death encounters.  Detective Jones even takes up residence to protect her since apparently she has become a murderer's target.     I absolutely love this series - the characters are so well thought out, the mysteries enthralling and the setting of the 70's takes me back to my youth.
Series/ Progress: Country Club Murders 3/3 DATE READ: April 17 - April 18 NO. OF PAGES: 256 Type of Book e-book SOURCE: NetGalley

Bedford Falls: The Story Continues by Anne Morse

238 pages on Kindle Tablet

This book is the story of It's A Wonderful Life's George Bailey's grandson and how Bedford Falls was affected by George after the end of It's a Wonderful Life and his family members.  We see Mary his wife still alive in her 90s and his children and grandchildren.  We again see the cruelty of greed and welcome the angel Clarence with open arms.

My Ladies group read this for a December gathering and it charmed us all.  My favorite read of the year!

Murder at the Courthouse by A. H. Gabhart

An unidentified body is found on the courthouse steps and the everyone in Hidden Springs is in an uproar.  Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane has to try to identify the body before he can even start an investigation.  At the same time, Keane is battling with a rebellious teenager. With all the players that are getting the way, the clues to the murder seem a bit out of the ordinary.

I really loved the mystery and the way that the history of the characters were interwoven into the story.  The characters need a bit more fleshing out but for a first in a series it was really good.

★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Michael Keane, Anthony Blake, Jay Rayburn, Judge Wilson Campbell
Series/ Progress: A Hidden Springs Mystery
DATE READ: November 9 - November 12
NO. OF PAGES: 336
Challenges: 75, Category, ALPHAKIT, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Cardiac Arrest by Lisa Q. Mathews

Summer Smythe has settled into her late grandmother's condo in a senior community of Hibiscus Pointe and has found a job with a cardiologist, however on her first day Dr. A drops dead at her feet.

Dorothy Westin, a senior resident at Hibiscus Pointe, takes Summer under her wing when it appears that she may be in trouble when it comes to light that Dr. A was poisoned.

So Smythe and Westin set out to find the true murderer before one of them ends up dead or in jail.

A cute little cozy with a nice mixture of characters.

★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS:
Series/ Progress:
DATE READ: November 3 - November 6
NO. OF PAGES: 272
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: NetGalley

A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch

Charles Lenox and Lady Jane Grey have been friends since childhood so when the death of one of her former servants doesn't seem right, Lady Jane asks her friend to check into the circumstances for her.

Inspector Exeter doesn't want to offend George Barnard, the employer of the victim so he's perfectly happy to call the death a suicide until Charles convinces him that the death may be more than that and be critical to saving a major government problem from occurring.

The story was entertaining and the characters were well-developed.  I enjoyed the book and will be looking for more in this series.

★★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Charles Lenox, Lady Jane Grey, George Barnard, Dr. Thomas McConnell, Inspector Exeter
Series/ Progress: Charles Lenox Mysteries 1/10
DATE READ: October 20 - October 22
NO. OF PAGES: 324
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI 
SOURCE: Kindle/NetGalley

Dying for Danish by Leighann Dobbs

Lexy Baker is expanding her Cupcakes to be part of catering and is hired to  supply treats to a bridal shower but when she arrives with the delivery she discovers the bride-to-be dead.  Feeling a sense of responsibility, she starts her own investigation which does please her police detective boyfriend who is in charge of the investigation. 

★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Lexy Baker, Jack Perillo, John Darling, Blake Toliver, Chastine Johnson
Series/ Progress: Lexy Baker 2/10
DATE READ: September 20 - September 22
NO. OF PAGES: 200
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , 
SOURCE: Kindle

Killer Cupcakes by Leighann Dobbs

Lexy broke up with Kevin months ago, but when he is found poisoned by one of Lexy's Cupcake Tops she is the prime suspect and must work to clear herself of all suspicions.

A cute little mystery with fun characters

★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Lexy Baker, Jack Parillo, John Darling, Cassie, Mona, Kevin, Jason
Series/ Progress: Lexy Baker 1/10
DATE READ: September 21 - September 21
NO. OF PAGES: 143
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , 
SOURCE: Kindle

Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver

Kelly Jackson has been working as an assistant to the owner of a hotel chain and now has been presented the opportunity to show what she can do when she is assigned to replace a resort manager who recently died.  Little does she know what she's getting her herself into when she arrives at the peaceful Inn at Redwood Cove and finds that the GM may have been murdered.

There are a group senior citizens who call themselves the Silver Sentinels who are determined to prove that the former manager did not die accidently and they enlist Kelly's assistance and then come to her aid when mysterious events continue to happen.

I loved the setting, the characters and the mystery- great start for a new series!


★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Kelly Jackson, Daniel Stevens, Helen Rogers, Tommy Rogers, Suzie Ward
Series/ Progress: Redwood Cove  1/1
DATE READ: September 16 - September 17
NO. OF PAGES: 256
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , ALPHAKIT, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

A Beeline to Murder by Meera Lester

Abby MacKenzie is an ex-cop turned farmer and while delivering some of her trademark honey to pastry chef in town, she finds him dead.  Not satisfied with the "suicide" finding my her ex-bosses, and hired by the victim's handsome brother to investigate deeper, Abby searches for the truth and is disillusioned by what and who she finds involved in the murder. 

This the first in a new series and the characters were ones that I would like to get to know better.

★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS: Abby MacKenzie, Kat Petrovsky, Phillipe Bonheur
Series/ Progress: Henny Penny Farmette Mystery  1/1
DATE READ: September 6 - September 7
NO. OF PAGES: 288
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , AlphaKit
SOURCE: NetGalley

Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal

America has joined the war and Maggie Hope as secretarial staff accompanies Winston Churchill to Washington.  At the same time, one of Mrs. Roosevelt's secretary is missing in action so Maggie is recruited to aid Mrs. R and goes with her when they discover the missing secretary dead.  Maggie knows how important the Americans are to the war effort and works in the background to protect Mrs. R as well as uncover the apparent conspiracy which could destroy the American war cooperation.

The conspiracy and historical events are, as usual, cleverly woven together leaving the anticipation of continued adventures for Maggie and her friends.

Love this series!  Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an advanced e-copy to read.

★★★½

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Maggie Hope, Winston Churchill, FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt, Byrd Prentiss
Series/ Progress: Maggie Hope series 5/5
DATE READ: August 19 - August 21
NO. OF PAGES: 352
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI , AlphaKit
SOURCE: NetGalley

Dressed to Kill by Lynn Cahoon

Jill, owner of the Coffee Shop/bookstore, is participating in a mystery theater charity event with her policeman/boyfriend.  At rehearsal one night  she discovers a real body.  Unable to say out of the investigation, Jill gets drawn in even more when the victim's girlfriend turns out to be her boyfriend's ex.  

The characters keep getting better and the situations are entertaining.  Glad I found this series!

 ★★★

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
CHARACTERS:
Series/ Progress: Tourist Trap  4/4
DATE READ: May 13 - May 14
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, AlphaKit
SOURCE: NetGalley/Kindle

Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King

For those that follow the characters of Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes in this series, the time frame of the story falls after Pirate King and Garment Shadows when they are cruising to Japan before returning home.

On the cruise Mary meets Sato Haruki, a current day ninja, while at the same time Holmes spies Lord Darley who he recognizes as a blackmailer.  The story carries Holmes and Russell with Sato through Japan and into the presence of Prince Regent Hirohito.  They are petitioned to aid in the recovery of a unique artifact.

Just as the reader thinks that the issues in the story have been resolved, Mary is back in Oxford and comes face to face with Haruki again asking for assistance for the same problem.

The actual resolution is exciting and totally unexpected.

★★★★

GENRE: Mystery
CHARACTERS: Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, Haruki Sato, Hirohito
Series/ Progress: Mary Russell/#13
DATE READ: December 30 - January 5
NO. OF PAGES: 330
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: LTER, NetGalley

Toured to Death by Hy Conrad

There are murder mystery weekends where the attendees try to solve the murder well, this was a road rally with the same idea.  Clues were spread throughout 4 countries and islands and the participants have time trials getting from one site to the next.  

The concept sounds like a blast until there is a real murder.  Then everyone is trying to solve the murder to save one of their own.

 ★★★½

GENRE: Cozy mystery
SUBJECT: perfect crime, murder mystery rally
Setting: Europe
CHARACTERS: Amy Abel, Otto Ingo, Marcus Alvarez, Jolynn Mrozek, Georgianna Davis
DATE READ: December 27 - December 29
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Mrs. Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death by Mark Reutlinger

This book was filled with entertainment - Bertha drowning in the Matzoh Ball soup, hiring a burglar to search for evidence and more.

The mystery was light but still full of fun.

★★★

GENRE: Cozy mystery

SUBJECT: friendship, old age

CHARACTERS: Hazel Rose, Lucy Hooper, Carlene Arness, Evan Arness, Helen Adams, Vince Castrelli

DATE READ: December 26 - December 27

NO. OF PAGES: 188

Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 

SOURCE: NetGalley

Murder at the Book Group by Maggie King

Belonging to 3 book groups I couldn't resist this one.   Hazel belongs to a Book Group that also has members that include several of her friends as well as Carlene, the current wife of her first husband.  A bit creepy but it gets worse when Hazel finds Carlene dying of cyanide poisoning.

As suspect along with the other group members, Hazel works to determine who killed Carlene.

Fun book, glad it's not my Book Group.

 ★★★

GENRE: Cozy mystery
SUBJECT: jealousy, obsessions
Setting: Richmond, VA
CHARACTERS: Hazel Rose, Lucy Hooper, Carlene Arness, Evan Arness, Helen Adams, Vince Castrelli
DATE READ: December 17 - December 25
NO. OF PAGES: 400
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

Twisted Threads by Lea Wait

Angela Curtis is called back to Maine when her mother's body is finally found after 19 years.  On her arrival, she learns that her grandmother started a business with her fellow needlepoint enhusiasts but now she has a problem - the man who was suppose to sell their products is unreachable.  Angela offers to help since she has some skills having worked for a PI previously.

Successfully locating the salesman, Jacques Lattimore, and bringing him back to a meeting of the Mainely Needlepointers, everyone is stunned when he falls ill and then dies.  They are all suspects.  

The investigation and conclusion were interesting and well thought out.

Lots of fun!

 ★★★½

GENRE: Cozy mystery
SUBJECT: fraud, embezzlement
Setting: Haven Harbor, Maine
CHARACTERS: Angela Curtis, Charlotte Curtis,Lauren Greene Decker, Jacques Lattimore, Joe Greene
DATE READ: December 11 - December 16
NO. OF PAGES: 272
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley

If the Shoe Kills by Lynn Cahoon

In this third installment of the Tourist Trap Mystery series, as the Christmas season approaches, Jill Gardner is coordinating not only the interns for all the Main Street merchants in a work program but also an impromptu investigation into the murder of the work program director.

New merchants have moved into South Cove.  Could they be at the center of the murder?

The reader hears more about the core characters as they broaden out and become people you'd like to visit.

Hoping the next one is out soon.

★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT:
Setting: California
CHARACTERS: Jill Gardner, Greg King, Toby, Killian, Marie Jones, Regina Hendricks
DATE READ: November 18 - November 22
NO. OF PAGES: 216
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, 
SOURCE: NetGalley