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mystereity's reviews
1164 reviews
Fatal Brushstroke by Sybil Johnson
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fatal Brushstroke was our Book Club pick for January and I was really looking forward to it! I read #4 last October and was looking forward into starting the series from the beginning and I wasn't disappointed! Right from the start it grabbed me, it was so easy to picture the scene; a yappy dog, finding the hand buried in the flower bed and Rory cleaning the kitchen while the police are outside investigating. Hilarious and so relatable, who hasn't pretended to clean while watching activity outside? No one, we've all done it. Too funny!
There was a lot going on in this one; the murder of Hester, an artist and painting instructor that Rory knew from her mother's craft store, recurring alarm problems, plus having to deal with an effort around the town to paint Rory as a murderer. And while I enjoyed it, at some points it was a bit unfocused and meandered around, like Rory and Liz were just going around in circles. Which actually is kind of realistic to have a lull in the investigation but it also got a bit tedious and I flipped through pages in a few places. But in the end, when the killer was finally revealed, the exciting conclusion capped the book off and I loved how Rory's past tied in to all of it.
A great start to this series and it only gets better. Can't wait to read book 2 next month!
There was a lot going on in this one; the murder of Hester, an artist and painting instructor that Rory knew from her mother's craft store, recurring alarm problems, plus having to deal with an effort around the town to paint Rory as a murderer. And while I enjoyed it, at some points it was a bit unfocused and meandered around, like Rory and Liz were just going around in circles. Which actually is kind of realistic to have a lull in the investigation but it also got a bit tedious and I flipped through pages in a few places. But in the end, when the killer was finally revealed, the exciting conclusion capped the book off and I loved how Rory's past tied in to all of it.
A great start to this series and it only gets better. Can't wait to read book 2 next month!
Tall Tails Secret Book Club by CeeCee James
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I don’t know where I first heard about this book, but it had all the things that light my fire. An old crumbling mansion, secret passageways and a secret garden, and a cat. What more could you want?
And overall I did enjoy it, but I have to say this one is more cozy than mystery. It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I realized that the murder I was expecting already happened earlier in the book but it was just casually mentioned, barely 3 or four sentences marked that it happened. So I spent most of the book wondering where this was all going and it wasn’t until 2/3 through that it all started to come together. Once the pieces started falling into place, the pace picked up and then it was a roller coaster ride to the ending.
I’ll give this one four stars, despite being a little flummoxed until it all started to come together, but the end made up for it. So I would say if you enjoy character driven stories, this might be for you.
Edit: I spent a little time thinking about the book last night after writing this review and came to the realization that I didn't give enough credit to the author for how neatly and subtly the mystery evolved as the book went on. I realized I never did notice when the mystery part of the plot started to "grow" until that last third of the book when all the clues became clearer. So, kudos to the author who managed to keep a well crafted mystery galloping along, weaving it neatly into the MC's narrative as she starts her job.
Also,I totally thought the crown was in that staircase chess piece she kept touching.
And overall I did enjoy it, but I have to say this one is more cozy than mystery. It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I realized that the murder I was expecting already happened earlier in the book but it was just casually mentioned, barely 3 or four sentences marked that it happened. So I spent most of the book wondering where this was all going and it wasn’t until 2/3 through that it all started to come together. Once the pieces started falling into place, the pace picked up and then it was a roller coaster ride to the ending.
I’ll give this one four stars, despite being a little flummoxed until it all started to come together, but the end made up for it. So I would say if you enjoy character driven stories, this might be for you.
Edit: I spent a little time thinking about the book last night after writing this review and came to the realization that I didn't give enough credit to the author for how neatly and subtly the mystery evolved as the book went on. I realized I never did notice when the mystery part of the plot started to "grow" until that last third of the book when all the clues became clearer. So, kudos to the author who managed to keep a well crafted mystery galloping along, weaving it neatly into the MC's narrative as she starts her job.
Also,
Roses and Revenge by Diana Xarissa
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I was looking forward to this one, as it's set in Buffalo, where I grew up. Fenella and Daniel are in town for Jack's wedding to his new love Linda. When Linda's ex-husband returns to disrupt the wedding, having left her with no notice or forwarding address years before, tempers flare and George is later found dead in a dumpster. Despite being on vacation thousands of miles away from home, Daniel and Fenella find themselves in the middle of another murder.
I enjoyed this one, but for a while it felt like they were spinning their wheels and felt like it was longer than it could've/should've been. But there were some great moments along the way, as well as very familiar scenery (to me, at least) and at one point, Fenella drives over the Grand Island Bridge with Jack hyperventilating in the back seat and I entirely related. In fact, it triggered flashbacks of driving the bridge in the rain, surrounded by speeding semi trucks and seeing glimpses of the angry Niagara river churning below. *shudders* Yeeeesh. I felt for ya, Jack.
As for the murder itself, there was very little detail as to the manner of death and without any knowledge of the suspects, it felt very much like I was in the dark as much as Fenella and Daniel were, which definitely made it more interesting. There were only 2 things that put me off. First, Fenella was called upon by the detective to talk about suspects, despite having known nearly all of them for just a few hours (really, she had only known them when she was introduced, so more like a few minutes) and I can't see how any detective would bother putting that in a report. Second, there were several clues that would've wrapped up the case fairly quickly that were ignored and given no mention.
Overall, I enjoyed it and it was gratifying to see the formerly absent-minded and co-dependent Jack finally "grow into himself" a little, even taking charge a time or two. If you've been reading the series from the beginning as I have, he's come a long way. With a sweet moment at the end, it was enjoyable from start to finish
I enjoyed this one, but for a while it felt like they were spinning their wheels and felt like it was longer than it could've/should've been. But there were some great moments along the way, as well as very familiar scenery (to me, at least) and at one point, Fenella drives over the Grand Island Bridge with Jack hyperventilating in the back seat and I entirely related. In fact, it triggered flashbacks of driving the bridge in the rain, surrounded by speeding semi trucks and seeing glimpses of the angry Niagara river churning below. *shudders* Yeeeesh. I felt for ya, Jack.
As for the murder itself, there was very little detail as to the manner of death and without any knowledge of the suspects, it felt very much like I was in the dark as much as Fenella and Daniel were, which definitely made it more interesting. There were only 2 things that put me off. First, Fenella was called upon by the detective to talk about suspects, despite having known nearly all of them for just a few hours (really, she had only known them when she was introduced, so more like a few minutes) and I can't see how any detective would bother putting that in a report. Second, there were several clues that would've wrapped up the case fairly quickly that were ignored and given no mention.
Overall, I enjoyed it and it was gratifying to see the formerly absent-minded and co-dependent Jack finally "grow into himself" a little, even taking charge a time or two. If you've been reading the series from the beginning as I have, he's come a long way. With a sweet moment at the end, it was enjoyable from start to finish
City of the Dead by Jonathan Kellerman
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I'm a sucker for a new Kellerman, he's one of those authors that I actively search for when the next book will be out, and thanks to Netgalley I got this one before release. In City of the Dead, Milo catches a new case; a naked man found dead in the street after getting run over by a moving truck and following leads from the neighbors, finding another victim, a woman found dead in her home with her throat slashed. Milo and Alex begin to weave their way through scant clues and dead ends to find a ruthless killer.
As with all the Kellerman books I've read, I found the characters fascinating, there's always an eclectic slice of life to the peripheral characters in this series, especially Cordi's mother, whose disassociation from her daughter and Cordi's self-imposed estrangement along with the pain of her murder was probably to protect her own fragility. It adds a gritty realism and also a poignant human element that makes for a memorable read.
A salaciously sinuous plot, it kept me guessing with each chapter, with a pace that kept moving and grinding from clue to clue. One thing that really stood out in my mind was the interactions between Alex and Milo. After decades of this series, I never get tired of the two of them working together. In this one, Alex had met the victim in a custody case he had worked and was put in a tight spot a few times when his professional ethics and integrity prevented him from giving information to Milo and it's a real testament to Alex and Milo's friendship how they resolve their differences without rancor or hard feelings.
Finally, just a short note. I received an advanced copy and although it's requested not to share details in case they're changed or edited out in the final release, I do want to say that I found the discussion about one of the Beatles' songs interesting and amusing and I'm now wondering if I'm an outlier because it's one of my favorite songs and I could live in that song's vibe happily ever after, picking up the rice... (less)
As with all the Kellerman books I've read, I found the characters fascinating, there's always an eclectic slice of life to the peripheral characters in this series, especially Cordi's mother, whose disassociation from her daughter and Cordi's self-imposed estrangement along with the pain of her murder was probably to protect her own fragility. It adds a gritty realism and also a poignant human element that makes for a memorable read.
A salaciously sinuous plot, it kept me guessing with each chapter, with a pace that kept moving and grinding from clue to clue. One thing that really stood out in my mind was the interactions between Alex and Milo. After decades of this series, I never get tired of the two of them working together. In this one, Alex had met the victim in a custody case he had worked and was put in a tight spot a few times when his professional ethics and integrity prevented him from giving information to Milo and it's a real testament to Alex and Milo's friendship how they resolve their differences without rancor or hard feelings.
Finally, just a short note. I received an advanced copy and although it's requested not to share details in case they're changed or edited out in the final release, I do want to say that I found the discussion about one of the Beatles' songs interesting and amusing and I'm now wondering if I'm an outlier because it's one of my favorite songs and I could live in that song's vibe happily ever after, picking up the rice... (less)
Hemlock for the Holidays by Paula Darnell
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I picked this one up for the r/CozyMystery Plant in the Title square on book bingo (I'm still not 100% sure if Hemlock is a flower or a plant. All I could come up with was "flowering plant" which didn't tell me much!) This is the third book in the series, but I'd say it can easily be read as a standalone, as any mentions of prior events didn't hamper my enjoyment or understanding. But, it was so good, I will be reading the earlier books.
This was a nice, easy read with an enjoyable community of characters, a twisty plot and all the joy of Christmas. Lonesome Valley is a typical small town where everyone knows everyone else's business and Amanda relies on her close knit group of friends to catch her up on the backstories of the townspeople. (I'm going to quote Mint's review, "...the town is charming, yet flawed, adding a realistic touch to the story" and I agree completely!) I have to say, in this one, the people definitely outshone the plot, which isn't to say the plot wasn't good (it was!) but for once I enjoyed the people more. Usually I'm all about the solving, but I just liked hanging out with Amanda and the other characters so much, I wasn't even trying to solve the mystery. Overall, a great read and I look forward to returning to Lonesome Valley!
Caution: Spoiler reveals the ending, so don't click on it if you don't want it spoiled:
[It really didn't make much sense to me why the killer bothered slipping the poisoned carrot cake bars into the bake sale, then bought them and gave them to the victim. Wouldn't it have been easier to skip the extra step and just give them to the victim, saying they're from the bake sale? There was no evidence where the poisoned carrot cake bars came from, so why risk getting caught with the poisoned ones or the poisoned ones not selling? By slipping them into the bake sale, there was even less possibility of them finding their way to the victim. For all the killer knew, there might've been so many non-poisoned carrot cake bars that the poisoned ones may not even have ben sold. And how did he know there would be carrot cake bars at the bake sale and if they'd be decorated or not? Too much risk to bother, IMHO. I'll also be interested in reading the next book in the series when it comes out if there was any fallout helicopter company's lawsuit and the shenanigans behind it.
This was a nice, easy read with an enjoyable community of characters, a twisty plot and all the joy of Christmas. Lonesome Valley is a typical small town where everyone knows everyone else's business and Amanda relies on her close knit group of friends to catch her up on the backstories of the townspeople. (I'm going to quote Mint's review, "...the town is charming, yet flawed, adding a realistic touch to the story" and I agree completely!) I have to say, in this one, the people definitely outshone the plot, which isn't to say the plot wasn't good (it was!) but for once I enjoyed the people more. Usually I'm all about the solving, but I just liked hanging out with Amanda and the other characters so much, I wasn't even trying to solve the mystery. Overall, a great read and I look forward to returning to Lonesome Valley!
Caution: Spoiler reveals the ending, so don't click on it if you don't want it spoiled:
A Room with a Roux by Sarah Fox
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was my pick for the Winter Wonderland square on Holiday Book Bingo. I've read the earlier books and liked them and this one was perfect for the square.
Newlyweds Marley and Brett are headed for a wintery weekend getaway at Holly Lodge, a retreat in the mountains but all is not happy at the lodge. Owners Rita and Kevin are at odds over expanding the business and a real estate tycoon is pressuring them to sell the lodge to him. After witnessing a few tense moments over the two days they were there, Marley and Brett are stunned to find Kevin's body buried in the snow, dead. Eek! I enjoyed this one, I liked that the murder occurred pretty early (something you can only say in a book review without raising eyebrows) and I wondered how Marley was going to solve it, as they cut their stay short, and I liked how the investigation continued in Wildwood Cove before return to the scene of the crime for the big conclusion. There wasn't a lot of investigating in this one, mostly because of the different locations, so most of it was just asking a few questions and chewing on the facts. But the Merry Christmas-y vibe, especially with the side mystery of the ornament thefts made for a light and enjoyable read.
Newlyweds Marley and Brett are headed for a wintery weekend getaway at Holly Lodge, a retreat in the mountains but all is not happy at the lodge. Owners Rita and Kevin are at odds over expanding the business and a real estate tycoon is pressuring them to sell the lodge to him. After witnessing a few tense moments over the two days they were there, Marley and Brett are stunned to find Kevin's body buried in the snow, dead. Eek! I enjoyed this one, I liked that the murder occurred pretty early (something you can only say in a book review without raising eyebrows) and I wondered how Marley was going to solve it, as they cut their stay short, and I liked how the investigation continued in Wildwood Cove before return to the scene of the crime for the big conclusion. There wasn't a lot of investigating in this one, mostly because of the different locations, so most of it was just asking a few questions and chewing on the facts. But the Merry Christmas-y vibe, especially with the side mystery of the ornament thefts made for a light and enjoyable read.
The Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I downloaded this one on Netgalley for the r/CozyMystery Halloween theme read and let's face it, no one does ghosts better than Angie Fox!
First off, I loved the 80s theme. Ahhh high school in the 80s...poofy dresses, poofier hair...you know, like omg totally awesome. Brought back memories of dancing to the newly released Two of Hearts by Stacey Q at my first high school dance. *sigh* Memories...But anyway, I'm here to talk about this book; it's Homecoming in Sugarland and the festivities are just getting underway when a body is found of a missing Homecoming queen who supposedly left town after the dance in 1985 (spoiler: she didn't, but I figured that part out before I even started reading it.) We also meet Verity's mother for the first time and really, what woman can't relate to Tilly and Verity's relationship? So realistic, I loved it.
But my favorite part of this was that a lot of the plot centered on Frankie; the loveable gangster ghost is going through some issues, wreaking havoc on Verity's investigation. I loved that it made Frankie a bit more dimensional and...human? for lack of a better word. On one hand, I feel like it was a long time coming and on the other hand, I don't know why it took this long to do!
A totally rad book from start to finish, like fer sure!
First off, I loved the 80s theme. Ahhh high school in the 80s...poofy dresses, poofier hair...you know, like omg totally awesome. Brought back memories of dancing to the newly released Two of Hearts by Stacey Q at my first high school dance. *sigh* Memories...But anyway, I'm here to talk about this book; it's Homecoming in Sugarland and the festivities are just getting underway when a body is found of a missing Homecoming queen who supposedly left town after the dance in 1985 (spoiler: she didn't, but I figured that part out before I even started reading it.) We also meet Verity's mother for the first time and really, what woman can't relate to Tilly and Verity's relationship? So realistic, I loved it.
But my favorite part of this was that a lot of the plot centered on Frankie; the loveable gangster ghost is going through some issues, wreaking havoc on Verity's investigation. I loved that it made Frankie a bit more dimensional and...human? for lack of a better word. On one hand, I feel like it was a long time coming and on the other hand, I don't know why it took this long to do!
A totally rad book from start to finish, like fer sure!
A Ghost's Tale: Willow Valley Cozy Mysteries by Sigrid Vansandt
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love this fun, quirky series and I've been wanting a follow-up since I read The Ghost in Mr. Pepper's Bed. This one lived up to (and maybe even surpassed) the first in the series, it was that good! Quirky, well drawn characters, a quaint small town and a riviting plot made this one fantastic read!
I love Sonya, from her cute little house to her toodling around on her Vespa with dog Willard in the back and ghostly friend Fritz on the handlebars to her knack for solving crimes alongside her Sheriff friend Zeb and his crew. I love how well the ghosts are woven into the story. They tell their tales, but the actual crime solving comes down to good ol' fashioned detective work. I love that so many cozy mystery tropes are absent (no "stay home, don't investigate, it's dangerous"! kind of stuff that are so disingenuous and patronizing in a story. None of that here!). and although the other characters don't necessarily *believe* Sonya, they don't ridicule her or get snide about it. It's just accepted. I also loved that the dogs have their own communication network and they even got into doing some of the detecting! This series is so stinkin' adorable in every way.
But the plot! Total page turner, with lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. There were several suspects and this was one of those books where each chapter has you suspecting someone else. It was all wrapped up in a satisfying conclusion and I admit, I got a bit misty reading the last chapter. Bittersweet, to be sure!
Overall, a great follow-up to an equally great debut and this series is at the top of my Can't-Wait list.
I love Sonya, from her cute little house to her toodling around on her Vespa with dog Willard in the back and ghostly friend Fritz on the handlebars to her knack for solving crimes alongside her Sheriff friend Zeb and his crew. I love how well the ghosts are woven into the story. They tell their tales, but the actual crime solving comes down to good ol' fashioned detective work. I love that so many cozy mystery tropes are absent (no "stay home, don't investigate, it's dangerous"! kind of stuff that are so disingenuous and patronizing in a story. None of that here!). and although the other characters don't necessarily *believe* Sonya, they don't ridicule her or get snide about it. It's just accepted. I also loved that the dogs have their own communication network and they even got into doing some of the detecting! This series is so stinkin' adorable in every way.
But the plot! Total page turner, with lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. There were several suspects and this was one of those books where each chapter has you suspecting someone else. It was all wrapped up in a satisfying conclusion and I admit, I got a bit misty reading the last chapter. Bittersweet, to be sure!
Overall, a great follow-up to an equally great debut and this series is at the top of my Can't-Wait list.
As the Christmas Cookie Crumbles by Leslie Budewitz
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed the Holiday theme read so much, I added an extra Christmas book. I’ve never read this series before, so I can safely say this can be read as an entry into the series or as a standalone…but I can also safely say I’ll be going back and reading the other books.
This was a great Christmas-y read; family, friends, and community being the most important themes in this book. I really felt for Merrily, especially after the whole horrifying story came out, just tragic and really, pretty senseless. The setting in Montana really helped capture the Christmas feeling, so well in fact that my feet got cold reading about all the feet crunching in the deep snow. And the Decorating Day, that sounds like so much fun! I’d love to spend an afternoon browsing the stores and heading to get a pain au chocolate at the french patisserie. Capping off the book was a sweet wedding where MC Erin marries her boyfriend Adam, complete with hijinks from the groom’s brothers.
A wonderful read and thouroughly enjoyable, this was a perfect Christmas time read and I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
Of Spice and Men by Sarah Fox
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I'm trying to get caught up on this series but this one couldn't hold my attention. I took me a few weeks (errrp, months?) to get through it as I kept finding books I was more excited about, but kept nibbling away at this one.
And I chalk it up to my own lack of attention span because this wasn't a bad book by any means. I love the series (I want Ivan to be my BFF and make me waffles every day. I can dream, right? I believe fictional waffles don't have any carbs or calories, so I can eat them all day long.) and it was a great plot; a movie is being filmed in town and one of the crew members is murdered and Marley sleuths her way to find a killer. Lots to like about it, like the head prank and who did it (and why) and the myriad of suspects, all of which were tied to the movie. A cracking great plot. the only thing I was less than thrilled with was the TSTL moment that set up the final show down because it felt too convenient. Other than that, it was a great book and I'm looking forward to the next.
And I chalk it up to my own lack of attention span because this wasn't a bad book by any means. I love the series (I want Ivan to be my BFF and make me waffles every day. I can dream, right? I believe fictional waffles don't have any carbs or calories, so I can eat them all day long.) and it was a great plot; a movie is being filmed in town and one of the crew members is murdered and Marley sleuths her way to find a killer. Lots to like about it, like the head prank and who did it (and why) and the myriad of suspects, all of which were tied to the movie. A cracking great plot. the only thing I was less than thrilled with was the TSTL moment that set up the final show down because it felt too convenient. Other than that, it was a great book and I'm looking forward to the next.