Lyla is a good 'ol southern gal living in Sweet Mountain, GA, a small town as only the south can do. With its laid back lifestyle and good people you've known all your life, it should be idyllic. For Lyla, a receptionist in her uncle's private investigation office, solving mysteries runs in her blood. Together with a circle of like minded friends organized into a true crime book club, Lyla enjoys the crime investigating life. But when one of the club members turns up dead in a suitcase delivered to Lyla's front door, crime investigating turns serious - and deadly. Unable to set aside the danger, Lyla puts her skills to the test to track down a killer in her home town.

A first book in a new series always calls to me. What is this new world? Can I settle right in? Will these characters become friends? A first book in a new series is always an open invitation I can never pass up, and this book opened the door to a place I'd love to spend more time in. The characters were equally as charming, I loved Lyla's granny (would love to see her more as Lyla's partner in crime...well, crime fighting) and I'm looking forward to seeing where Lyla goes from here.

As for the plot, it was packed with intrigue and tension, from the discovery of Carol's body to the threats and red herring to the thrilling ending, it made for a can't-put-it-down roller coaster ride. I admit, this was one of those books where I would decide on the likely culprit but the red herrings always pulled me off the scent. I love books that do that!

Overall, an excellent introduction to the folks in Sweet Mountain, GA and I'm looking forward to reading more!

First came The Thing at the Foot of the Bed. In 4th grade, I was obsessed with it, took it out of the library so many times, I'm surprised they didn't just let me have it.<

Then came Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark. Back then I used to take care of a couple of cute kids in the summer and we used to read them out loud and they loved them as much as I did.

So, scary stories have long held a place in my heart, so when I saw this on Netgalley, I jumped on it. A collection of eerie tales from Newfoundland, Canada, the 10 or so short stories are guaranteed to get a screech! out of the little ones (and maybe even the older ones!) accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. I'd love one or two of them for my wall! My favorite story was the ghostly ballerinas (so cute!) and the Old Hag (eeek!) and the blueberry picker was both heartbreaking and eerie. It takes me back to the days when I was a kid, huddled around the campfire listening to Gramps tell The Hookman story (and when they got home, they saw, hanging from the door handle, was a HOOK! *scream*)

Screech! concludes with several tips on how to come up with your own scary story, something I might just do to scare the little ones in my family while sitting around the fire this winter. Scary good fun, and it would be a great gift for younger kids, I'd say ages 7 and up, especially for kids who like a little bit of scary and might help them to enjoy reading.

Read this and all of my reviews at Mystereity Reviews

Although spring is around the corner, winter isn't giving up so easily in County Cork, and a blizzard strands Maura and several others at the pub, including a woman who was suspected in a murder 20 years ago. Unable to leave the pub, they all gather to pick apart every detail of the crime, revealing a decades old secret and new revelations that could bring a killer to justice.

This was an outstanding read with a fresh, original plot that drew me in and kept me turning pages. There's no stumbling over a dead body here; instead, a cold case is poured over and debated. It was almost Agatha Christie-ish, simple, yet complex in a locked room setting.

The setting is quaint and inviting, a small Irish pub with a peat fire, a lively atmosphere, the regulars bellying up to the bar, the musicians cranking out Irish tunes, Rose in the kitchen cobbling together meals for everyone, and especially Ol' Billy, in his usual chair by the fire. All well described and vivid, it's not tough to envision the scene at Sullivan's Pub.

Overall, Cruel Winter is an enjoyable escape, with an unconventional plot that will keep cozy mystery fans guessing with each page. This book can be read as a standalone, or as an entry into the series, but I recommend reading the whole series.


Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest review

I read this several years ago but apparently didn't write a review. In fact, it's been so long since I read it that it felt like I was reading it again for the first time but with full knowledge of the characters and their stories. Made for an interesting read! I suggested this for the r/CozyMystery May book club read after I decided to re-read the series before I get into the final book (I've been putting it off because I'm not ready to say goodbye to Battle Lake and Mira. *sob*)

I love Mira. I would want her to be my BFF if we lived in the same universe. She's equal parts awkward, hilariously dark humored and a bit of an overthinker. Basically, she's me as a fictional character. And I think that's why I love this series so much, it's not often I find someone who comes up with worse jokes in bad situations than I do. And now that I think about it, it's all of the characters in this and all the books in the series that kept me coming back with each book. I know how the characters evolve as the series goes on, so it was a real treat to go back to where it started.

As for the plot, who killed archaeologist (and one time football star) Jeff and why? I loved the plot with all its twists and turns and Mira's fumbling attempts to investigate made it all the more realistic. I loved all of the funny moments along the way, from that party (had me laughing out loud!) to breaking into places to trying to spy on someone's conversation through a window, it was both comical and also...I mean, who wouldn't think along the lines that Mira did? Who wouldn't dress in black from head to toe to break into a house or sneak into a party? I probably would've done all of the things Mira did, which made it feel more authentic to me. And that creeptacular ending! Have to say, if you saw that coming, my hat is off to you. This was my second time reading it and I didn't even remember that ending.

Overall, this was a deftly plotted and well written debut in this series and one I definitely recommend.