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It's just after Christmas at Joan and Janet's B&B in Doveby Dale. With few guests to keep the sisters busy, Janet has joined a womens' group to make new friends in the area. One of the members wants to invite men to join the group, and they decide to have an introductory meeting with 2 prospective men, a retired investment banker and a retired antique dealer. After overhearing her friends' conversations with these men, Janet becomes concerned that her friends are being duped out of their savings. Using her snooping skills, she starts asking questions, but can she prevent her friends from being fleeced?

This clean novella-length series proves you don't need a murder to make a great mystery.The relaxed pace and gentle mystery makes it all so easy to get sucked into the world of Doveby Dale and its quirky citizens. It was adorable watching Janet navigating the world of dating, with not one but two beaus vying for her attention. I always knew Janet was a saucy little minx!

Overall, The Green Case is an enjoyable little story, so grab a cup of tea and curl up with it this afternoon!

Mrs. Berns is up to her old tricks, scouting out the eligible men at a church retreat. In the Miracle of Mayo class, a man keels over dead. Mrs. Berns, who knows about such things, declares it a murder and vows to solve it before the police arrive.

This was a very quick (and a little dirty, but you know how Mrs. Berns is!) little mystery, just a couple of pages long. It really whetted my appetite for the next Murder by Month (March of Crimes) which isn't due out until some time next year. This was laugh out loud funny, the names of the seminars had me rolling.and Mrs. Berns is as salty as always. A really great little read, more amusing than mystery but definitely a delight.

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Scotland Yard's First Cases is more than a story about Victorian crimes, it's also a fascinating look at the beginnings of Scotland Yard and the first detectives to come aboard and pioneer the finest law enforcement agencies in UK. It highlights not only their fight to create a detective force, but also their struggles to modernize, deal with corruption in the ranks and to standardize crime cases across the UK. Their legacy is still lives today, as Scotland Yard is recognized world wide as one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the world.

I particularly enjoyed the focus on the methods of detection used, their abilities were admirable, considering the lack of technology and training. Really, it's a wonder that so many crimes were solved and the compelling cases highlighted in the book are a testament to their tenacity. The author's thorough research in the archives is apparent in the details, with each case presented in a concise but very entertaining manner and one story about the robbery of a stamp office was particularly amusing. Their legendary exploits even made it into literary works of the time, including stories by Charles Dickens.

Scotland Yard's First Cases is an entertaining first-rate history of one of the world's most prestigious and recognizable agencies in law enforcement and its captivating cases will appeal to fans of history and/or true crime.

Thank you to Endeavor Press and Netgalley for a copy of the book in return for my honest review

See my full review at Mystereity Reviews

In the affluent neighborhood of Cheltenham Square, things aren't as harmonious as it seems. The ten houses are host to simmering rivalries, anger, and hatred that lead to a shocking death. Superintendent Meredith is visiting Cheltenham Square for a few days with his friend Barnet, and is quickly pressed into service to assist the local force in investigating the perplexing killing. With several obvious suspects, they begin to think that the killing was mistaken identity, particularly when the only witness to the crime is killed in the same fashion. Together, Meredith and Long set out to solve what appears to be an impossible crime.

I really enjoyed The Cheltenham Square Murder, it was an entertaining, complex mystery, with all the charm of 1930s England, the time when this book was written. With a quick pace and a baffling plot, this locked room mystery, set in a small square in England, has several obvious suspects with several good motives and iron-clad alibis. Combined with the bonhomie between Long and Meredith (no inter-departmental rivalry here!) it was an exceptionally delightful and intriguing read.

Overall, The Cheltenham Square Murder is an excellent classic mystery that will entrance and ensnare any fan of mysteries, particularly fans of classic mysteries.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Just...okay. The characters are cute but frankly, the TSTL moments are just too much to bear.

This isn't even worthy of a review, so I'll just say that Ellie is quite possibly the dumbest character I've ever seen. Have a big hole in the wall of your pizzeria? Just staple a few sheets of plastic over it for a week while you worry about if it's too soon to hire another contractor. And by all means, leave all the cash in the cash drawer, because those few sheets of plastic will deter any burglar. I'm out. Cute characters or not, it's just too implausible to continue reading this series.

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I love this cute cozy series set in a small town near Niagara Falls. Being a WNY ex-pat, the setting is so familiar; a quaint town with its little shops, a wine festival, and of course, small town secrets.

In Prose and Cons, Violet and her grandmother are preparing for a Poe-try reading at Charming Books, complete with period costumes, to be held by the shop's writers group, The Red Inkers, during the wine festival in Cascade Springs. When Anastasia, one of the Red Inkers, is found dead in the shop, Violet uncovers the secret Anastasia was hiding and starts investigating, with the help of the magic tree at Charming Books.

This was a great read, every bit as good as the first. I love the world the author has created, with a colorful bunch of lovable characters and a magical bookshop, where the books choose you. I'd love to visit!

The well-crafted plot had a truly puzzling mystery and an exciting surprise ending that had me on the edge of my seat! I loved the novel manner of death, it's not one I see in mysteries very often, and made the plot that much more complex. Along with the mystery, Violet also meets a stranger who changes her life, and I look forward to seeing how that plays out in later books.

Overall, Prose and Cons and the Magical Bookshop series will cast its spell over any cozy mystery fan and is a welcome way to spend a few hours wrapped in its enchanting world.

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Waking up in strange places has become stock in trade for earthbound angel, Adriel. This time she has landed right in the middle of a crime scene where some guy who looks like a superhero wannabe gives her a hard time about her performance. The Powers That Be keep sending her on jobs without explanation and now she has to rescue her own guardian angel from the clutches of evil.-Via Goodreads

Another great adventure for Adriel and her friends, beginning with the very first page! First introduced in the excellent Psychic Seasons series, Adriel is adapting to a new existence on Earth, guiding guardian angels and combating darkness. When she lands in an alley right after a woman is killed, she has no choice but to team up with Leith, a man with apparent magical abilities who is bent on saving souls. Leith was a complex characters, I liked that you're never quite convinced that he is who he says he is. The three fairies were a hoot, and I loved the carnival between worlds! The gripping plot led up to a thrilling ending that kept me on the edge of my seat! I can't wait for the next book to come out to see what Adriel does next!

Combining action, mystery and a hint of romance into only 159 pages, Earthbound Wings is a satisfying read in a great series and I definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy a light mystery, captivating adventure and great characters.

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Obnoxious ghost hunters descend on Cressida Upthorpe’s boarding house, convinced it must a source of paranormal activity given that three murders have occurred there in a short space of time.
After one of the ghost hunters is murdered with poisoned hair dye, Sibyl does her best to keep well away from the investigation, that is, until Cressida almost falls victim. With the bumbling detectives back in town and on the scene, Sibyl races to solve the murder before the body count rises. -Via Goodreads

I really enjoyed this one, it was one of those books where I tried to read it slower to savor it, but it was so good I had to read it all the way through in one sitting. The great plot, involving another poisoning at Cressida's boarding house kept me guessing, and and I liked the just-a-wee-bit sardonic view of ghost hunter shows (which I love, but can't help but view sardonically.) There were so many misdirections and red herrings that I changed my opinion on whodunit several times, and the ending was very satisfying. I may have uttered a soft yaaay but I'll never admit to it publicly.

I love all the characters, but it's Mr. Buttons and his eccentricities that I love the most. I laughed out loud about the dog agility course, it was hilarious! And Cressida's paintings! I confess, I'd probably buy one, probably the shipwreck. Who wouldn't? Sibyl had a great idea there.

Overall, Dye Hard was fun and enjoyable, and a great addition to the series. I definitely recommend it for any cozy mystery fan.

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Tense, gritty, and thrilling!

With the death of her father…

Officer Charlene Taylor has received her dream promotion—working Homicide with the LAPD. Her first case is the high-profile murder of Ken Anderson, a playboy UCLA professor with a haunted past. A mafia kingpin, billionaire tycoon, cheated wife and jaded lover are only a few on a long list of suspects, all with motive and opportunity.

…all hope of reconciliation is lost.

Not only does she feel the pressure from media and her boss to solve her first case, but Charlene must also deal with her father’s murderer, the “Celebrity Slayer,” a serial killer who enjoys baiting her with his knowledge of her life and routines.

Can a rookie detective work two high-profile cases and still keep her sanity? -via Goodreads

I really enjoyed the taut atmosphere of the book. The fast paced plot with all the twists and turns cranked up the tension with each page, and didn't let up for a second, whipping through twists and turns that kept me just a litle unsure, a little on edge. Well done!

The multi-faceted plot wound together several crimes. From the murder of a well-connected UCLA professor from a powerful family to The Celebrity Slayer, a vicious serial killer working his way through Hollywood's B list actresses that may tie in to the murder of Charlene's father, a retired LAPD detective turned PI who was pursuing his own Celebrity Stalker case. With so much going on in the book, is was deftly plotted in a clear, organized way, very easy to follow and definitely a white-knuckle thrill ride. I have to say, the UCLA professor case was the most interesting to me, almost a locked room mystery because the suspects were apparent, but difficult to prove and with its own plot twist. And that alone would've made for a great book, but the Celebrity Slayer plot led up to an excellent surprise ending that kept me on the edge of my seat! Definitely one of those conclusions that I couldn't read fast enough.

Newly promoted to Homicide Detective, Charlene is a little thorny, a little vulnerable and very stubborn, but you just have to root for her. Although a tough, tenacious and diligent detective, she battles her own demons; her inability to work through her issues with her recently murdered father, a drinking problem and commitment issues with her boyfriend.

Overall, Kiss & Tell is an exceptional thriller and police procedural and I don't hesitate to recommend it to crime fiction fans.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review