#Laurien Berenson

[rachel-sylvan-author]

My favorite cozy mystery series this year! "Peg and Rose Solve a Murder" "Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble" "Peg and Rose Play the Ponies" by Laurien Berenson

Thank you @ilikeoldbooks1213 for introducing us! ❤️

[doodlesink]

Pumpkin Spice Puppy by Laurien Berenson -- A Book Review

Happy Thursday!  Pumpkin Spice Puppy by Laurien Berenson is a fun fall whodunit.  Stop by to learn more about the 30th A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery & what I had to say about it.  Happy Reading!

https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2024/08/pumpkin-spice-puppy-by-laurien-berenson.html

[louhastings]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[e-b-reads]

[master list here]

Cozy mysteries - if you’ve read one you know the genre! Often follow the plot pattern of: [single young woman/divorcee] returns to [hometown/other important location of her childhood] to [take over family/start a new] business. Someone is murdered! Because [the murder hurts her business/she’s a suspect/her bestie is a suspect/…] she must investigate extra-judiciously. Luckily she is successful, and also a romance is developing with the hunky [detective/co-worker…it’s usually a detective and/or cop tho].

Despite the similarities, many cozy mysteries I’ve read do have a thing or two that sets them apart! Read on for some recommendations based on what kind of experience you might be looking for! (In order of how recently I read them; this is by no means an exhaustive list, just some things I read and thought worth recommending.)

Are you looking for a cozy mystery series that…

…has recurring characters that may become future murderers/victims?

Local Foods Mystery Series, by Edith Maxwell!

Otherwise a fairly typical cozy mystery experience, but I did like the setting and the journey to end up with the love interest - who is not, for once, described mainly as “handsome,” but is given physical traits that have no inherent value, but which the heroine obviously likes. (It’s a small thing, but worth noting!)

…has characters of color as the main cast?

Noodle Shop Mystery series, by Vivien Chien

In this mystery, when the main character moves “back home” it means she’s working in her parent’s noodle house again, in a shopping center full of Chinese-American owned businesses. This is the community she mostly solves mysteries in. Cute and funny at times!

…has a love interest who isn’t a cop?

Melanie Travis mystery series, by Laurien Berenson

As you can hopefully tell from the cover, the sort of business/special interest driving this cozy series is dog breeding and dog shows! The main character’s aunt gets her into helping show standard Poodles. Aside from the fascinating look into the world of showing dogs, the mysteries are fairly standard, but I do like (as said above) that the love interest isn’t a cop for once - and also and maybe more importantly, the main character is a single mom who really loves her six-year-old and has to deal with logistics like child care before diving into dog shows and mysteries.

…has a more experienced amateur detective?

Coffeehouse Mysteries, by Cleo Coyle

She’s not experienced at solving crime, but she’s a 40-something divorcée with an adult daughter who, in book 1, is about to take back over a coffee house that she has several years of experience running. In other ways, not dissimilar from the standard cozy series outline - except that they take place in NYC instead of a small town somewhere! Also good if you like a slow burn romance - it takes several books for the main character to get with the main love interest.

…has characters more complex than they seem?

Cajun Country Mysteries, by Ellen Byron

These also have a strong, fun sense of place deep in the heart of Louisiana, though in a fictional town. Though essentially light-hearted, they do acknowledge the history of plantations in the area, as well as giving the reader a look at various true funky Cajun Country traditions. The recurring characters are a little over-the-top at points, but they’re saved by the added complexity: for example, the mean sheriff character who is nowhere near as handsome as his detective cousin (guess who the love interest is…) turns out to be a still annoying but OK guy who is able to acknowledge when he was wrong. Also, as someone who works in hospitality: the people staying in the main character’s BnB are unfortunately not super over-the-top, people can really be like that. (Except with less murder, in my experience.)

…has a Marple-ish (older, underestimated) protagonist?

Deadly Edits series, by Kaitlyn Dunnett

There is no love interest here! (At least, not in the ones I read.) A retired widow moves to her childhood hometown and opens a copy-editing business, then starts solving murders. It’s a nice change of pace from the young businesswomen looking for love, if you’re still looking for an essentially cozy plot.

[rockislandadultreads]

New Title Tuesday: Cozy Mysteries

Mrs. Plansky's Revenge by Spencer Quinn

Mrs. Loretta Plansky, a recent widow in her seventies, is settling into retirement in Florida while dealing with her 98-year-old father and fielding requests for money from her beloved children and grandchildren. Thankfully, her new hip hasn’t changed her killer tennis game one bit.

One night Mrs. Plansky is startled awake by a phone call from a voice claiming to be her grandson Will, who desperately needs ten thousand dollars to get out of a jam. Of course, Loretta obliges―after all, what are grandmothers for, even grandmothers who still haven’t gotten a simple “thank you” for a gift sent weeks ago. Not that she's counting.

By morning, Mrs. Plansky has lost everything. Law enforcement announces that Loretta's life savings have vanished, and that it’s hopeless to find the scammers behind the heist. First humiliated, then furious, Loretta Plansky refuses to be just another victim.

In a courageous bid for justice, Mrs. Plansky follows her only clue on a whirlwind adventure to a small village in Romania to get her money and her dignity back―and perhaps find a new lease on life, too.

Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble by Laurien Berenson

When a typically closed-off Peg attempts online dating at Rose’s strong urging, the experience plays out like an embarrassing mistake. At least, until she matches with Nolan Abercrombie—intelligent, attractive, and a self-proclaimed dog lover. The two share an instant connection that has Peg cautiously excited to finally bring someone special into her busy world of Standard Poodles and conformation shows.

Before Peg can admit that Rose was right and let down her walls for the budding romance, a terrible accident claims Nolan’s life. As details about his background and tragic death come to light, Peg has a serious hunch that someone successfully plotted to kill her first real date in decades . . .

With suspects galore and a slew of puzzling clues to peel through, Peg and Rose team up to solve a dangerous mystery unfolding before their eyes. The question is: Can the unlikely duo turn their radically different personalities into an advantage as they scramble to ID the guilty culprit—or will they manage to work against each other and find themselves precisely where a meticulous murderer wants them to be?

This is the second volume of the "Senior Sleuths Mystery" series.

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers

Summer is in full swing as tourists flock back to the Northwoods and travel to Lofty Pines, Wisconsin. For Rain Wilmot, owner of the Lakeside Library, this is the perfect opportunity to bring back her mother’s summer book club. But the summer sun starts to really heat up when one of the club’s members, Lily Redlin, is found dead in her own home not long after the first meeting.

Alongside her sidekick and neighbor Julia Reynolds and the charming Jace Lowe, Rain discovers that the murder is seemingly inspired by the book club’s recent selection of Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel, Sparkling Cyanide. But who would kill Lily, and more importantly, why?

The deeper Rain goes into the story, the more confusing and complicated the plot becomes. Was Lily murdered to cover up a tragic accident involving an old classmate years earlier? Or were the rumors true—did Lily really possess priceless original Laura Ingles Wilder manuscripts and someone killed her for them? And who stands to gain the recently inherited piece of waterfront property that Lily received from a long-lost relative?

With a long list of suspects and motives, Rain realizes that all leads come back to people involved in the book club. Rain and her friends take a page from Agatha Christie’s book by hosting a reenactment of the club’s first meeting to flush out the killer. Will Rain’s plan succeed—or will this librarian’s book be checked out for good?

This is the third volume of the "Lakeside Library Mystery" series.

Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts

As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for actually discovering the dead body of the founder of her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado. Bailey grew up at Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch and was raised by her beekeeping grandmother, Blossom Briggs, aka Granny Bee, and her two eccentric sisters, Aster and Marigold—which is why she drops everything to come home and help Granny Bee after a bad fall.

A broken foot doesn’t stop her grandmother from ruling The Hive, her granny’s book club, or continuing to prepare and package her bee-inspired products. But when Bailey's grandmother’s infamous "Honey I'm Home" hot spiced honey turns out to “bee” the murder weapon and her granny is now the prime suspect, Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and ‘smoke-out’ the real culprit.

With the help of Bailey’s witty bestie, a pair of meddling aunts, the feisty members of The Hive, and her computer-savvy daughter, this amateur sleuth is determined to solve the case. A malicious attack and an ominous threat reveal that someone wants Bailey to butt out of the investigation, but there’s no way she’s backing down. She must use her skills to uncover the truth and catch the clever culprit before her grandmother ends up bee-hind bars.

This is the first volume of "A Bee Keeping Mystery" series.

[dollycas]

It took me right up to December 31 but I completed all of my 2024 Reading Challenges. I still need to write a couple of reviews. I will get those done soon. 2024 Reading Challenge LORI has read 190 books toward her goal of 190 books. hide 190 of 190 (100%) view books A. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein B. A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush C. A Crust to Die For by Toni LoTempio D. Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel E. The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes F. Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon G. A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy H. The Heir by Aaron Qualio I. Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow J. The Jane Harlow Bombshell by Mollie Cox Bryan K. Kill or Bee Killed by Jennie Marts L. The Lace Widow by Mollie Ann Cox  M. Murder on the Geneva Express by JB Micheals  N. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen O. Off the Air by Christina Estes P. A Pie To Die For by Gretchen Rue Q. Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert  R. Read on Arrival by Nora Page S. Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert  T. A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum U. Undercover Babymoon by Karina Bartow V. Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait W. The Wilderness Trap by Jodi Linton X. Brood X by Joshua Dysart  Y. Yuletide Market Murder by Victoria Tait  Z. And Now There's Zelda by Carolyn Clarke  Completed 12/19/2024 Mini-Challenges January - 3 SYLABBLES - The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes February - Number Written Out - Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon March - 5Ws and a H - How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin April - Creepy Crawlies - Spider Lake by Jeff Nania May - Fruit - Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves June - Wedding - Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore July - U.S. STATE - Oklahoma's Gold by Kathryn Long August - Small Item - Requiem for a Mouse by Miranda James September - Money - French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron October - Costume - Pumpkin Spice Peril by Laurien Berenson  November - Spice - Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower December - Christmas Music - All God's Sparrows and Other Stories by Leslie Budewitz A. Kat Ailes - The Expectant Detectives B. Mollie Cox Bryan - The Jean Harlow Bombshell C. Callie Carpenter - Death by Demo D. Vicky Delany - The Sign of Four Spirits E. Ellie Alexander - A Smoking Bun F. Terrie Farley Moran - Murder She Wrote: Fit For Murder G. Sally Goldenbaum - A Twisted Skein H. Heather Day Gilbert  - Shade Grown I. Ian Moore - Death and Fromage J. Patricia Johns - Murder of an Amish Bridegroom K. Kristen Perrin - How To Solve Your Own Murder  L. Toni LoTempio - A Crust to Die For M. JB Micheals   Murder on the Geneva Express N. Nora Page - Read on Arrival  O. Olivia Blacke - Rhythm and Clues P. Paula Charles - Hammers and Homicide Q. Aaron Qualio - The Heir R. Ruth J. Hartman - Butterfly Betrayal S. Anna St. John - Doomed by Blooms T. Tara Lush - A Bean To Die For U. Lisa Unger - Fog Descending  V. Victoria Tait - Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim W. Peggy Webb - Black Crow Cabin X. Diana Xarissa - The Body in the Annex Y. Kate Young - Reading Between the Crimes Z. - Chad Zunker - The Wife You Know Complete - 9/27/2024 Alabama - Murder at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber Alaska - A Midlife Mountain Murder by Julie Ecker Arizona - Dying to Go by Marcy Blesy Arkansas - Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp California - Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow Colorado - Black Crow Cabin by Peggy Webb Connecticut - Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook Delaware - DM Me For Murder by Sarah E. Burr  District of Columbia - A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis Florida - A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush Georgia - A Crust to Die For by Toni LoTempio Hawaii - Molten Death by Leslie Karst Idaho - Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon Illinois - Murder on the Geneva Express by JB Micheals  Indiana - Butterfly Betrayal by Ruth J. Hartman Iowa - Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan Kansas - Doomed by Blooms by Anna St. John Kentucky - Motorhomes, Map, and Murder by Tonya Kappes Louisiana - Muffalettas and Murder by Jann Franklin Maine - Murder She Wrote: Fit For Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran Maryland - Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan Massachusetts - A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum Michigan - Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah Minnesota - Furever After by Sofie Kelly Mississippi - Requiem for a Mouse by Miranda James Missouri - Lyin' Eyes by Julie Mulhern Montana - All God's Sparrows and Other Stories by Leslie Budewitz Nebraska - Stripped Bare by Shannon Baker Nevada - Think Twice by Harlan Coben New Hampshire - An Escape Goat by Janna Rollins New Jersey - Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein New Mexico - The Wilderness Trap by Jodi Linton New York - The Lace Widow by Mollie Ann Cox  North Carolina - Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter North Dakota - Murder at the Library by Ellen Jacobson Ohio - A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson Oklahoma - Oklahoma's Gold by Kathryn Long Oregon - Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles Pennsylvania - Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns Rhode Island - Murder at Vinland by Alyssa Maxwell South Carolina - Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs South Dakota - Midnight Spells Murder by Mary Angela Tennessee - The Proof is in the Poison by Diane Kelly Texas - Magpie Maggie Takes the Wheel by Katherine H. Brown Utah - The Christmas Arrangement by Annie Adams Vermont - Brie Careful What You Wish For by Linda Reilly Virginia - The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis Washington - Death by A Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue West Virginia - Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert Wisconsin - The Heir by Aaron Qualio Wyoming - Mountain Town Murder by Sue Pepper Abroad 1. England - The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes 2. France - Death and Fromage by Ian Moore 3. Northumberland, UK - Daffodils and Deadly Deeds by Victoria Tait  4. Isle of Iona - Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer  5. Indonesia - The Good, The Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto 6. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - Murder She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran 7. Scotland - The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton  8. Italy - Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack 9. Caribbean Cruise - Undercover Babymoon by Karina Bartow 10. Ireland - Halloween Parade Peril by Victoria Tait  11. Tasmania - Alone with the Tasman Tiger by Jane Ellyson  Ravenous Level – 101 – 125 Cozy Mysteries 1. Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert  2. Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns 3. The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes 4. Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait 5. A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush 6. A Crust to Die For by Toni LoTempio 7. Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel 8. Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter 9. Doomed by Blooms by Anna St. John 10. A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum 11. The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany 12. Butterfly Betrayal by Ruth J. Hartman 13. Murder She Wrote: Fit For Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran 14. Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles 15. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah 16. Cherry Pies and Deadly Lies by Darci Hannah 17. Clocked Out by Anna St. John 18. A Pie To Die For by Gretchen Rue 19. A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy 20. A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander 21. Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow 22. Crime and Cherry Pits by Amanda Flower  23. Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook 24. Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon 25. The Last Word by Gerri Lewis 26. A High Tide Murder by Emily George 27. A Midlife Mountain Murder by Julie Ecker 28. Double Scoop of Murder by Lena Gregory 29. Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs 30. Read on Arrival by Nora Page 31. The Wilderness Trap by Jodi Linton 32. Double Grudge Donuts by Ginger Bolton 33. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen 34. Dying to Go by Marcy Blesy 35. Mayhem in Circulation by Leah Dombrinska 36. Daffodils and Deadly Deeds by Victoria Tait  37. The Secret Ingredient to Murder by Terry Ambrose  38. Battered and Buried by Lena Gregory 39. Cats, Carats, and Killers by T.C. LoTempio 40. Magpie Maggie Takes the Wheel by Katherine H. Brown 41. The Witless Protection Program by Maria DiRico 42. Molten Death by Leslie Karst 43. Motorhomes, Map, and Murder by Tonya Kappes 44. Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke  45. Murder She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran 46. The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton  47. Peril in Pink by Syndey Leigh 48. Off the Air by Christina Estes 49. Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith 50. Three Fudges and a Baby by Nancy Coco 51. Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off by Darci Hannah 52. Secrets and Scandals by Piper Glendale 53. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein 54. An Escape Goat by Janna Rollins 55. Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp 56. Resort to Murder by Annie McEwen 57. The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis 58. Brie Careful What You Wish For by Linda Reilly 59. Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook 60. A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson 61. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves 62. Muffalettas and Murder by Jann Franklin 63. Death Unfiltered by Emmeline Duncan 64. Purrfectly Framed by Ruth J. Hartman 65. Dead Tired by Kat Ailes 66. Kill or Bee Killed by Jennie Marts 67. A Cyclist's Guide to Crime and Croissants by Ann Claire 68. Clover Covered Corpse by Jackie Layton 69. A Lethal Lake Effect by Lorraine Bartlett 70. The Stranger in the Library by Eva Gates 71. Easier Dead, Than Drawn by Bailee Abbott 72. Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore 73. Torn Asunder by Barbara Ross 74. Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah 75. Photo Finished by Christin Brecher  76. Come Shell or High Water by Molly MacRae 77. Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook  78. A Whale of a Murder by Valerie E. Taylor 79. Peking Duck and Cover by Vivien Chien 80. A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron 81. A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns 82. Puzzle Me a Murder by Roz Noonan 83. The Body in the Bookstore by Ellie Alexander  84. Overdue or Die by Allison Brook 85. Death by A Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue 86. Requiem for a Mouse by Miranda James 87. There's No Murder Like Show Murder by M.S. Greene 90. Booked on Murder by Allison Brook 91. Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs 92. Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander 93. A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor by Darci Hannah 94. Keeled Over at the Cliffside by Nancy Stewart 95. Murder at Vinland by Alyssa Maxwell 96. In the Event of Murder by Cynthia Kuhn 97. A Poisonous Palate by Lucy Burdette 98. The Jig is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews 99. Buried on a Sundae by Lena Gregory 100. The Body in the Annex by Diana Xarissa 101. French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron 102. The Grim Steeper by Gretchen Rue 103. Undercover Babymoon by Karina Bartow 104. Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah  105. Halloween Parade Peril by Victoria Tait  106. Furever After by Sofie Kelly 107. Bell, Book and Corpses by T.C. LoTempio 108. Lyin' Eyes by Julie Mulhern 109. Reading Between the Lines by Kate Young 110. Murder in the Hidden Cargo Hold by Denise Jaden 111. A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis 112. Barks and Clues by Sharon Michaels 113. Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley  114. Pumpkin Spice Peril by Laurien Berenson 115. The Corpse at the Witching Hour by Debra Sennefelder  116. Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber  117. MSW: A Killer Christmas by Terrie Farley Moran and Jessica Fletcher 118. Midnight Spells Murder by Mary Angela 119. Six Stunning Sirens by Lynn Cahoon 120. Fondue or Die by Korina Moss 121. Caught on Camera by Kara Lacey 122. The Mysterious Case of the Missing Motive by Michele Parize Wacek  123. In the Blick of a Pie by Catherine Bruns 124. Scam Chowder by Maya Corrigan 125. Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower 126. Murder at the Library by Ellen Jacobson 127. A Room for Murder by Michele Pariza Wacek  128. I'll Be Home for Mischief by Jacqueline Frost 129. A Corpse Among the Carolers by Debra Sennefelder 130. Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah 131. Yuletide Market Murder by Victoria Tait 132. The Herringbone Harbor Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum 133. DM Me For Murder by Sarah E. Burr  134. Plausible Deception by Dwain Lee 135. Murder at the Lemonberry Tea by Darci Hannah 136. The Knife Before Christmas by Kate Carlisle  137. Blame the Beignets by Ginger Bolton 138. Mystery in Marseille by Nupur Tustin  139. Mountain Town Murder by Sue Pepper 140. I Thee Dead by Christine Lawrence 141. Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson 142. Murder at the Painted Wings Cafe by Ruth J. Hartman 143. A Basket Case by Lesley A. Diehl 144. The Proof is in the Poison by Diane Kelly 145. The Christmas Arrangement by Annie Adams 146. Deadly Crush by Maddie Day  147. Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan 148. Cowabunga Christmas by Anna Celeste Burke  149. Gnarly New Year by Anna Celeste Burke 150. Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes 151. Having A Fudgy Christmas by Nancy Coco 152. Chamomile Tea and a Copycat Crime by Victoria Tait Complete 12/30/2024 Please List the Title and the Author A BOOK BY AN AUTHOR WITH AN INITIAL IN THEIR NAME –Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow A BOOK PUBLISHED BEFORE 2000 – The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner A BOOK SET OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES –Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait A BOOK SET IN WISCONSIN OR TEXAS – Cherry Pies and Deadly Lies by Darci Hannah A BOOK BY A NEW TO YOU AUTHOR – Murder of an Amish Bridegroom by Patricia Johns A BOOK SHORTER THAN 200 PAGES – Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert  A BOOK THAT IS MORE THAN THE 6TH BOOK IN A SERIES –The Sign of Four Spirits by Vicki Delany A BOOK WITH AN ANIMAL ON THE COVER – Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles  A BOOK CLASSIFIED AS A HISTORICAL COZY MYSTERY – A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen A BOOK THAT HAS BEEN ON YOUR TO-BE-READ STACK FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS – Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore  A BOOK ABOUT A GHOST OR A WITCH – A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy  A BOOK ABOUT THAT INCLUDES RECIPES – A High Tide Murder by Emily George Complete 12/21/2024 Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire) - A)Read 40 cozy mysteries of your choice. B)Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books) - One from culinary (anything dealing with food: restaurants, baked goods, etc.) - A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush - Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah - One from animal-related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.) - Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert - Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein - One from craft-related (any kind of hobbies - knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.) - A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum - The Herringbone Harbor Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum - One from paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.) - Murder on the Geneva Express by JB Micheals  -A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy - One from cozy mysteries based outside the US (example: Belinda Lawrence series (British)) - Vanilla Chai and the Vanishing Victim by Victoria Tait -Halloween Parade Peril by Victoria Tait  - One career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.) -Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter - Mayhem in Circulation by Leah Dombrinska - One holiday-based (set during any holiday - Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine's, etc.) - Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore -Peking Duck and Cover by Vivien Chien - One travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.) - Molten Death by Leslie Karst -Murder She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher & Terrie Farley Moran - One historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present) - A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen - Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer  - One is your choice! (freebie!) - Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke - The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis Complete 11/20/2024 Level – 26-35 books 1. Murder on the Geneva Express by JB Micheals  2. The Heir by Aaron Qualio 3. The Lace Widow by Mollie Ann Cox  4. The Jane Harlow Bombshell by Mollie Cox Bryan 5. Death and Fromage by Ian Moore 6. How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin 7. Figure Eight by Jeff Nania 8. Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer  9. Spider Lake by Jeff Nania 10. Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack 11. Think Twice by Harlan Coben 12. At The Edge of the Woods by Victoria Houston 13. The Audrey Hepburn Heist by Mollie Cox Bryan 14. Black Crow Cabin by Peggy Webb 15. Over the Edge by Kathleen Bryant 16. Stripped Bare by Shannon Baker 17. Breach by Holly S. Roberts  18. Murder on Devil's Pond by Ayla Rose 19. One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day 20. Escape From Devil's Den by Bonnie Vanak 21. Queen of Hearts by Heather Day Gilbert  22. Oklahoma's Gold by Kathryn Long 23. The Wife You Know by Chad Zunker 24. The Tarnished Son by Elizabeth McKenna 25. Fog Descending by Lisa Unger  26. The Poseidon Project by E William Podojil 27. A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke 28. Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander 29. Alone with the Tasman Tiger by Jane Ellyson  Complete November 7, 2024 Silver – 25 Books Level 1. A Twisted Skein by Sally Goldenbaum 2. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah 3. The Jane Harlow Bombshell by Mollie Cox Bryan 4. Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook 5. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen 6. Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off by Darci Hannah 7. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein 8. Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp 9. Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook 10. Veiled in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore 11. Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah 12. Photo Finished by Christin Brecher 13. Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook  14. Overdue or Die by Allison Brook 15. Death by A Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue 16. Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah  17. Reading Between the Lines by Kate Young 18. A Killer Clue by Victoria Gilbert  19. A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis 20. The Corpse at the Witching Hour by Debra Sennefelder  21. Midnight Spells Murder by Mary Angela 22. Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah 23. The Proof is in the Poison by Diane Kelly 24. Mango, Mambo, and Murder by Raquel V. Reyes 25. Having A Fudgy Christmas by Nancy Coco Complete 12/27/2024 Level 3 – Read 13-20 Books 1. Shade Grown by Heather Day Gilbert  2. Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles 3. Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah 4. Clocked Out by Anna St. John 5. A Ghostly Clue by Maryann Shanesy 6. Crime and Cherry Pits by Amanda Flower  7. Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook 8. Five Furry Familiars by Lynn Cahoon 9. The Last Word by Gerri Lewis 10. Cats, Carats, and Killers by T.C. LoTempio 11. Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke  12. Murder Marks the Page by Karen Rose Smith 13. Three Fudges and a Baby by Nancy Coco 14. Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off by Darci Hannah 15. Antique Auctions are Murder by Libby Klein 16. An Escape Goat by Janna Rollins 17. Trotting into Trouble by Amber Camp 18. Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook 19. Black Crow Cabin by Peggy Webb 20. A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson Complete 5/27/2024 21. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves 22. Purrfectly Framed by Ruth J. Hartman 23. Easier Dead, Than Drawn by Bailee Abbott 24. Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah 25. Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook  26. Murder on Devil's Pond by Ayla Rose 27. A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron 28. A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns 29. Read the full article

[sidlaw7]

Pumpkin Spice Puppy (A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery) by Laurien Berenson #Review / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks @LaurienBerenson - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours

[southernista]

February was a great month mostly 4 & 5⭐️ reads! Six Feet Deep Dish by @minty_fresh_books Against the Currant by Olivia Matthew Mulled to Death by @kmlansing The Plot is Murder by @vmburnsbooks Killer Cupid by Laurien Berenson Because I Could Not Stop for Death by @amandaflowerauthor A Game of Cones by @abbylvandiver Wine and Punishment by @thewritefox Midnight Spells Murder by @maryangelabooks Buried in a Good Book by @tamaratamaralucy A Caterer's Guide to Love & Murder by @jessicathauthor2 #februaryreads #cozymysteryseries #cozymysteries #cozymysteryauthors #bookstagram #booksiread #readersofinstagram #ilovecozymysteries #sleuthers #cozymysteryreader #cozymysteryrecommandations (at Durham, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpPBL71swVU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[nevinslibrary]

Mystery/Thriller Monday

Jazz is working with her ex, Nick, and a cadaver dog trainee when they stumble upon a dead body, like ya do, well, like people in these mysteries do. Nick is on the case, but, because it would be a very boring book if he simply worked the case. Jazz gets in on the mystery solving as well.

Jazz was an interesting character, not a one note one at all. And, cadaver dogs mysteries, like forensic mysteries, that’s most definitely in my wheelhouse.

You may like this book If you Liked: Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima, Breaking Creed by Alex Kava, or Best in Show by Laurien Berenson

The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan

[sassybrit]

Here Comes Santa Paws! #TalkTuesday #Interview with author Laurien Berenson @laurienberenson #TeaserTuesday #Christmas! #TuesdayBookBlog #TuesdayThoughts

Hello book lovers, today it is CHRISTMAS COME EARLY!

I’m very pleased to be able to welcome back author Laurien Berenson! (Remember, “What’s the first rule of BITE CLUB?” – link below for anyone who missed it!)

As usual, today’s #TalkTuesday interview is also our #TeaserTuesday and First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros!  

Enjoy this cutie!

  Here Comes Santa Paws (A Melanie Travis…

[rachel-sylvan-author]

"Peg and Rose Stir Up Trouble" by Laurien Berenson

Thank you @bibliolifestyle for the rec! ❤️

[doodlesink]

Killer Cupid by Laurien Berenson--Book Review

#Happy Wednesday!  Killer Cupid by Laurien Berenson has Melanie & her hubby enjoying a weekend away.  See what I thought about the 29th A Melanie Travis Mystery.  Happy Reading!

https://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2022/12/killer-cupid-by-laurien-berenson.html

[rpoli3]

Wagging Through The Snow (Melanie Travis 21) By Laurien Berenson [Book Review]

Wagging Through The Snow (Melanie Travis 21) By Laurien Berenson [Book Review]

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much for your support!

I got it as a Christmas gift. Summary:

Melanie Travis needs a little peace from her busy life this Christmas. But the usual holiday hubbub is a joy compared to the killer surprise she finds tucked underneath the tree . . .

With a…

[bettylouiseme]

WAGGING THROUGH THE SNOW By Laurien Berenson It is always a pleasure to read once of Laurien Berenson's dog stories. The cover is a delight.

[dollycas]

Sunday Salon / Sunday Post – A Week in the Life of Dollycas – Weekly Rewind – New Arrivals

The Sunday Salon is a Facebook group that has become an informal week-in-review gathering place for bloggers. It is also a place to share our thoughts about things of a bookish nature. You can also link up weekly on Readerbuzz. The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE! Last Monday we traveled to watch Kaden at an away game. He tweaked his knee just before the half and we were afraid it was serious and he was done, but soon after he iced it down he was walking around the sidelines and was ready to play the second half. In addition to his spot on the defensive line, he went in on a couple of offensive plays down at the goal line. He "pancaked" the guy in front of him both times. They won 44-6. On Tuesday we were able to catch Natalie's final volleyball match of the season. We hadn't watched volleyball since her aunts had played, and not too much had changed. Her team won the first two games but lost the third. She has a great serve and the whole team is strong. I wish we would have made it to more, the 4:30 start time was tough. We promised to do better when basketball starts in just a couple of weeks. Wednesday, my nephew and a few of his coworkers joined 23 other Wisconsin communities of linemen headed to Florida to help with storm recovery in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. They arrived late Thursday night and got right to work on Friday. We don't know how long they will be there. Please keep the people devastated by these storms in your thoughts and prayers as well as all of the people that have rushed to the areas to help. Friday night we traveled to Kaden's last home game of the regular season. It was a nail-biter with the score staying close until the final quarter when the Cardinals dominated and sealed the deal 57-33 over the Rockets. Kaden played more than he has played since his concussion and he was a man on a mission. He is so much fun to watch as he blocks and tackles and moves to do it again. He had speed that we hadn't seen for a while. As you can tell, I am beyond proud of him as he not only succeeds on the field but in his classes as well. I only have sad news to report on Remi's football season. A couple of weeks ago he had an injury that ended his year. He was upset but his safety comes first. He is already excited for basketball to start. Less contact there so he should be good to go. He is excited because his mom will be coaching again. All week long we worked on wedding preparations as Daughter #1 and her fiancé are set to tie the knot this Saturday after being together for 17 years. Her brother and his fiancée's wedding will take place the week after. Both are outdoor weddings so I am praying it doesn't get too cold. It will be a crazy couple of weeks especially when you throw in a football game on the Friday nights. I am beyond excited for my kids. How was your week? Weekly Rewind - October 7 - 12, 2024 Monday - My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #41 – 2024 Tuesday - Barks and Clues: A Canine Cozy Mystery by Sharon Michaels #Review / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @AuthorSharonMichaels Wednesday - Cozy Wednesday featuring Sleep in Heavenly Pizza: A Deep Dish Mystery by Mindy Quigley #Review / #Giveaway @MinotaurBooks @StMartinsPress @minty_fresh_books Thursday - Pumpkin Spice Puppy (A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery) by Laurien Berenson #Review / #Giveaway @KensingtonBooks @LaurienBerenson Friday - #FlashbackFriday – A Corpse at the Witching Hour: A Food Blogger Mystery by Debra Sennefelder #Review / #Giveaway @debrasennefelder Saturday - Special Guest – Elizabeth Pantley – Author of Meditation and Mischief: Magical Mystery Book Club #GuestPost / #Giveaway – Great Escapes Book Tour @DestinyFallsMysteryandMagic Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent   Read the full article

[rockislandadultreads]

Book Recommendations: Let It Snow! 

Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer

Christina Antonioni is preparing for the holidays at her Nantucket toy shop, unpacking last-minute shipments and decorating for her loyal Christmas shoppers. But when her Scrooge of a landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, raises her rent, it seems nearly impossible for Christina to continue business on the wharf.

Even so, Christina hopes there is a warm heart underneath Oscar’s steely exterior. When she bonds with Wink, his sweet, young granddaughter who frequents the shop, it becomes clear that perhaps he isn’t so cold after all. And with the help of Wink’s uncle, who happens to be a charming and very handsome bachelor, this may be the best Christmas any of them could have ever imagined. Nancy Thayer’s enchanting Nantucket setting provides the perfect backdrop for this holiday love story.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart - he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone - but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.

This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka

When a beloved high schooler named Lucinda Hayes is found murdered, no one in her sleepy Colorado suburb is untouched - not the boy who loved her too much; not the girl who wanted her perfect life; not the officer assigned to investigate her murder. In the aftermath of the tragedy, these three indelible characters - Cameron, Jade, and Russ - must each confront their darkest secrets in an effort to find solace, the truth, or both. In crystalline prose, Danya Kukafka offers a brilliant exploration of identity and of the razor-sharp line between love and obsession, between watching and seeing, between truth and memory.

Wagging Through the Snow by Laurien Berenson

With a demanding teaching job at Connecticut's elite Howard Academy and five poodles scampering around the house, Melanie barely has energy for the upcoming Christmas rush. But she unwraps an unexpected challenge when her brother and ex-husband, elated by the recent success of their country cafe, make a spontaneous bid on a dilapidated pine tree farm. Although the ten-acre lot had been a popular seasonal destination while the original owner was still alive, it'll take some sprucing up - and a small miracle or two - before the neglected place is in shape for December.

Unfortunately, the impromptu business venture goes cold when the group discovers a purebred Maltese whimpering in the snow-covered grove - right beside a dead body. Pete, a squatter who camped out on the land, apparently met his end after a fallen fir tree branch knocked him on the head. But as Melanie and Aunt Peg investigate Pete's history and the terrible habit that cost him everything, it's clear his death was no accident. Now, Melanie must run through a flurry of likely suspects and muzzle a dogged murderer in time - or she'll be next on someone's deadly list.

This is the 21st volume in the “Melanie Travis” series.