English professor and Jane Austen fan Phaedra Brighton is involved in helping her sister Kate, when a woman is poisoned after sampling a cupcake at thEnglish professor and Jane Austen fan Phaedra Brighton is involved in helping her sister Kate, when a woman is poisoned after sampling a cupcake at the grand opening of Kate's patisserie. The woman worked for magazine editor and influencer Rachel Brandon, and the bad publicity involving the seeming accident threatens Kate's fledgling business. Phaedra's growing romance with Shakespeare scholar Mark hits a detour when he returns to England for Christmas and seemingly ghosts her. Phaedra seems a little late to the party when it comes to identifying clues, but to me the real mystery is why she prefers Mark to the local detective Morelli, who obviously cares for her and who saves her life yet again in this book....more
Librarian and mother of twins Amy Muir doesn't plan to get involved when a developer is murdered during her small town's winterfest celebration, but wLibrarian and mother of twins Amy Muir doesn't plan to get involved when a developer is murdered during her small town's winterfest celebration, but when her brother's husband, an ardent environmentalist, becomes a suspect, she feels impelled to help clear him. She's busy because her twins are dancers in her choreographer-husband's production of The Nutcracker at a nearby college, and his unsympathetic mother comes to visit in the run-up to Christmas, but never too busy to research (or snoop, as some might call it)....more
Ethel was an FBI agent even before they allowed women in, and also rented rooms in her large house to various law enforcement personnel. Now she's madEthel was an FBI agent even before they allowed women in, and also rented rooms in her large house to various law enforcement personnel. Now she's made two exceptions--one for her double-first cousin who's a student at American University, the other for a young clerk at the Supreme Court, who is the niece of one of her good friends. When the niece is attacked and her fellow clerk is murdered, Ethel calls in favors from the Secret Service, the FBI, and various police forces to investigate, protecting the Chief Justice, who is the deciding vote in a critical case involving lithium mining, a sinister lobbyist, and several US Senators. ...more
Event planner and domestic diva Sophie is on her way to a charity luncheon at wealthy Gerrie's house when they discover a dead body in the nicely arraEvent planner and domestic diva Sophie is on her way to a charity luncheon at wealthy Gerrie's house when they discover a dead body in the nicely arranged dining room. The dead man is a stranger to Sophie, but has a long, contentious history with Gerrie's now deceased husband and two very different sons. Gerrie begs Sophie to investigate and to try to keep her boys out of things. Sophie's friend police officer Wong is shocked when her narcissistic and criminal ex-husband returns after being away for two years. There are a lot of good meals and a lot of confusion before Sophie exposes the criminals....more
Camille is delighted when her son Paul is elected mayor of their suburban community, and only slightly less pleased that the curmudgeon now running thCamille is delighted when her son Paul is elected mayor of their suburban community, and only slightly less pleased that the curmudgeon now running the antiques store that used to belong to her parents is selling. But she can't explain how she comes to buy the place, planning to convert it back to the splendid store it was in the past. When she and bestie Opal find the previous owner dead in the store, the police don't seem interested enough to suit Camille, so she decides to look for the murderer herself. A missing, and probably scandalous, and perhaps forged historical letter provides a motive for all kinds of skulduggery....more
Chapter Three. This is less than a standalone book and more like a long, long chapter in a continuing saga with no real conclusion. There's also a lotChapter Three. This is less than a standalone book and more like a long, long chapter in a continuing saga with no real conclusion. There's also a lot of suspension of disbelief needed--a suburban mom and writer (Finlay) who has a nanny who's an aspiring accountant (Vero) who owes money to the loan sharks; Finlay owes favors, and money, to a psychopathic Russian mobster who wants her to find, and kill, a contract killer who may be a police officer working with Finlay's boyfriend (Nick). and her sister, also a cop. There's also Finlay's ex-husband Steve, who literally knows where the bodies are buried. This is all before the story starts and Finlay and Vero sign up for the citizens' police academy, where they're going to look for the contract killer, but they have to get out to rebury a character from a previous book who's going to be disinterred; the book "ends" with someone--possibly the loan shark?--kidnapping Vero's ex-boyfriend so it's off to Atlantic City. Breathless pace, humor, sex--if you can keep up with the pace, it's fine, but it's not really a beginning-middle-and end story. ...more
To save her beloved aunt's bed and breakfast inn, professor Phaedra organizes a Jane Austen week. It attracts a variety of guests, including a handsomTo save her beloved aunt's bed and breakfast inn, professor Phaedra organizes a Jane Austen week. It attracts a variety of guests, including a handsome fellow-professor--a Shakespeare scholar--and also a well-known author of historical romances, who loves nothing more than getting her own way. When a guest is found skewered by a cross-bolt, there are a lot of suspects for the handsome local policeman to investigate. Phaedra may be a noted scholar, but it's hard to believe that she--or maybe the police?--wouldn't google the suspects' backgrounds to find out more about them?...more
Another Christmas mystery by Donna Andrews, this one involving visiting Canadian programmers who are staying with Meg and Michael as they work on a coAnother Christmas mystery by Donna Andrews, this one involving visiting Canadian programmers who are staying with Meg and Michael as they work on a contract at Meg's brother's computer business. When there's a murder, Meg must help eliminate a lot of suspects, and ultimately is in danger herself. I will say this is one of the few Andrews' books where I've been ahead of Meg on identifying the culprit....more
Meg Langslow's brother Rob is getting married, and this time her mother is going to plan every detail. Rob and his fiancee said they'd let the two motMeg Langslow's brother Rob is getting married, and this time her mother is going to plan every detail. Rob and his fiancee said they'd let the two mothers have everything their own way, as long as they didn't have to do any work on the celebration. That leaves Meg, until her nephew Kevin says that his true crime podcast has brought some negative attention. An excuse--she's investigate to insure that trouble doesn't interrupt the wedding. As a special treat for fans, Meg has three cold cases to investigate--all fairly local, and all recently broadcast on the podcast. Which stirred up trouble: the case of the long-missing singer, the case of the newly-released murderer from Clay County, or the case of the business professor's suicide? Of course, there are wedding chores, including the eponymous peacocks, to contend with, and Meg's always eccentric family and friends....more
I've enjoyed Malliet's other series, to a degree, but this is miles better. The narrator, a widowed writer of successful thrillers, lives a quiet lifeI've enjoyed Malliet's other series, to a degree, but this is miles better. The narrator, a widowed writer of successful thrillers, lives a quiet life, by design, but tends to watch the couple across the courtyard, who seem to have a perfect marriage--until they disappear, leaving their young child alone. With the help of a retired lawyer who is a neighbor, and to the disgruntled warnings of the police detective in charge of the case, Augusta places herself in the midst of the investigation until she finds herself in a very unpleasant place indeed....more
Cafe owner and caterer Tish is cleaning up from an event when she finds a dead body sprawled in a local cemetery. Her friend, the local sheriff, identCafe owner and caterer Tish is cleaning up from an event when she finds a dead body sprawled in a local cemetery. Her friend, the local sheriff, identifies the body as a former sheriff, his mentor, and the location of the body the grave of a young girl who was killed by her own mother. The mother, wife of a U.S. Senator, confessed to the crime and died in prison--a closed case if ever there was one. But the former sheriff had been dissatisfied with the result, and was reopening the investigation himself. As Tish joins the sheriff's investigation, she realizes that she, too, is unsatisfied with the story they have all accepted for twenty years. Who did kill Daisy Honeycutt--and why did her mother confess if she were innocent?...more
Library director Amy Webber is preoccupied by her engagement to her neighbor, dancer Richard Muir, and also the mayoral campaign of her best friend anLibrary director Amy Webber is preoccupied by her engagement to her neighbor, dancer Richard Muir, and also the mayoral campaign of her best friend and assistant Sunny. But everything must go on hold when a skeleton is found on the property of Sunny's grandparents, who run an organic farm, but who once ran a commune. It's fairly clear that murder was afoot, especially when a local woman who lived on the commune is killed in a purported robbery. There are rather obvious clues to the killer, and a little too much lovey-dovey stuff between Amy and Richard to suit my tastes, but the real trouble with this book is the presence of a deux ex machina (broken, in this book) who steps in to solve Amy's problems. I hope #5 sees Gilbert back in her best form....more
It occurred to me mid-read that one of the reasons people love the Meg Langslow books is that we all feel as put-upon and overworked as Meg should feeIt occurred to me mid-read that one of the reasons people love the Meg Langslow books is that we all feel as put-upon and overworked as Meg should feel--but she doesn't. She's organizing her grandfather's Owl Fest for ornithologists at the Caerphilly Inn, and a freak blizzard has isolated the group not only from the town itself, but also from the Internet. But, with the help of her self-effacing actor husband (is that an oxymoron?), she keeps at it, makes sure the conference runs with a minimum of ruffled feathers, and helps trap a murderer. The usual amusing cast of subsidiary characters adds interest....more
Brynn and her three cows move onto a small farm so she can start a small cheesery. A fire kills her next-door neighbor, who's been planning to redo thBrynn and her three cows move onto a small farm so she can start a small cheesery. A fire kills her next-door neighbor, who's been planning to redo the abandoned church she lives in to make a farm store. Strange incidents convince Brynn--and her new friend Willow--to investigate, until the two women are attacked inside Brynn's home and narrowly escape death. But the attractive fire inspector has had his eye on the suspect all the time...I picked this up thinking it was a new series by a different author than the prolific Bryan....more
Caterer/café owner Tish is trying to prepare a luncheon for the garden club awards at the plush retirement center, but things go awry when she and oneCaterer/café owner Tish is trying to prepare a luncheon for the garden club awards at the plush retirement center, but things go awry when she and one of her best friends, Julian Davis, find the body of an unpopular, but successful, gardener. She's also coping with her other best friend's marriage imploding, leaving MJ and her two children camping out in Tish's small apartment. As she struggles with plans for the lunch and people wanting to talk about the case, she gradually develops a theory that would explain the murder. I would have liked this a lot better, but I don't care for the writer's prose style, which I'd describe as accurate but stilted....more
Sophie is helping her friend Bernie run the Old Town Pie Festival. The big draw is celebrity chef Patsy Lee Presley, who turns out to have a lot of olSophie is helping her friend Bernie run the Old Town Pie Festival. The big draw is celebrity chef Patsy Lee Presley, who turns out to have a lot of old friends in Old Town. After the junior pie contest, one of the losers comes to Sophie's house and begs for help in getting her mother released from prison. Patsy Lee collapses at the festival and the police are not sure if it's murder or an accident. The pastry chef at Bernie's restaurant comes under suspicion. There are a lot of suspects, but even more alibis, and Sophie herself is almost arrested for a different crime. After all, fingerprints don't lie--or do they?...more
Tish wants to start a second life as a café owner/caterer in the small town in Virginia where her two best friends live. As she prepares to open the cTish wants to start a second life as a café owner/caterer in the small town in Virginia where her two best friends live. As she prepares to open the café, she gets a gig catering the big library fund-raiser. But the woman who runs the library--and everything else in town--dies suddenly during the meal. The friendly sheriff does not suspect Tish, but during the course of her public relations campaign to promote the café, she can't help learning different things about the murder. Her two friends--a tv weatherman and a busy housewife who used to be in p.r.--pitch in, both with preparations for the café opening and with the sleuthing....more
I'd been looking forward to this Meg Langslow book, but it really didn't seem to be to be up to Andrews' usual standard. Meg is directing the childrenI'd been looking forward to this Meg Langslow book, but it really didn't seem to be to be up to Andrews' usual standard. Meg is directing the children's pageant for Christmas at her church when she finds a young child in the manger. Since she and Michael are certified as foster parents, she takes the child home for the night, but she soon learns who the parents are and why the child was abandoned. It all relates to more corruption in neighboring Clay County, and when a number of her friends go over to look around, they're captured by the local forces of law and order, which are disorderly and not very lawful. Meantime, the whereabouts of the baby are ignored, and for that matter Meg's twins are left to fend for themselves as far as the reader can tell....more
When staffer Kit Marshall discovers the murdered body of the senator she works for, she immediately becomes suspect number one. You think it would be When staffer Kit Marshall discovers the murdered body of the senator she works for, she immediately becomes suspect number one. You think it would be bad enough that she's going to lose her job when a new senator is appointed! But how is she going to get a new job if she's a murder suspect? Kit and her best friend Meg decide to investigate, since they know the people involved far better than the police do....more
Sophie and her friends, including her ex-husband Mars, her ex-boyfriend and local policeman Wolf, and her current boyfriend, a lawyer, are drawn into Sophie and her friends, including her ex-husband Mars, her ex-boyfriend and local policeman Wolf, and her current boyfriend, a lawyer, are drawn into the murder of a local lawyer. All the gossips point to evidence that seems to incriminate his new trophy wife, but she wins Sophie over with the tale of her tragic childhood. But when the wife's ex-boyfriend (and alibi) is also murdered, her arrest seems inevitable. The neighborhood has no power on, because of a storm, and Sophie does indeed cook to use up food before it becomes spoiled, so everyone seems to be visiting her house a lot, enabling her to get a good idea for who the suspects are. A lot of characters and a complex plot make this not-as-easy-reading as one might expect....more
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