Bookmarked for Death

Bookmarked for Death by Lorna Barrett (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2009)(A Booktown Mystery)

What do a stone book and a stabbed cake have to do with Zoë Carter's death?
Once a struggling town, Stoneham, New Hampshire is now enjoying a renaissance--thanks to booksellers like Tricia Miles, proprietor of Haven’t Got a Clue. It’s a great place to find a good mystery to read--or to solve ….
To celebrate her bookstore’s anniversary, Tricia Miles hosts a book signing for bestselling author Zoë Carter. But the event takes a terrible turn when the author is found dead in the washroom. Before long, both police and reporters are demanding the real story. So far, the author’s obnoxious assistant/niece is the only suspect. And with a sheriff who provides more obstacles than answers, Tricia will have to take matters into her own hands--and read between the lines to solve this mystery….

Book #2 in the Booktown Mystery Series

Review: Once again, Ms. Barrett has come up with a winner. Just when you think you have the answer to the mystery, you find you're wrong. I have read every book in this series, and am anxiously waiting for more.

Bookplate Special

Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2009)(A Booktown Mystery)

Tricia Miles, owner of Haven’t a Clue mystery bookstore, is still settling into Stoneham, New Hampshire, the kind of town where everybody knows your name—and where everyone’s quick to lend a hand, even when murder is afoot . . .

The kinder folks of Stoneham might call Pammy Fredericks a free spirit. The less kind, a freeloading thief. Tricia has put up—and put up with—her uninvited college roommate for weeks. In return, Pammy, has stolen $100, among other things. But the day she’s kicked out, Pammy’s found dead in a dumpster, leaving loads of questions unanswered. Like what was she foraging for? Did her killer want it too? To piece the case together, Tricia will have to dive in head-first.…

Book #3 in the Booktown Mystery Series

Review: I love this series! The victim is the guest we'd vote most likely to annoy everyone. You almost cheer when she's found dead, but Tricia only moves to investigate. In the process, she finds some interesting things going on in Stoneham.

Chapter & Hearse

Chapter & Hearse by Lorna Barrett (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2010)(A Booktown Mystery)

According to the gossip around Stoneham, New Hampshire, Tricia Miles cannot put down a real murder mystery. After all, the owner of the mystery bookstore, Haven’t Got a Clue, has been spending more time solving whodunits than reading them…Tricia’s sister, Angelica, considers herself to be the next celebrity chef. To celebrate her first cookbook, Angelica hosts a launch party, but sadly the only guest is an oversized cutout of herself. Worse than the lack of fans is a nearby gas explosion that injures her boyfriend, Bob Kelly, the head of the Chamber of Commerce.
Tricia’s never been a fan of Bob, but when she reads that Bob is being tight-lipped about the “accident” and how it killed the owner of the town’s history bookstore, it’s time to take action. As the incriminating details emerge, Tricia gets wrapped up in a murder that proves to be as spine-tingling as the books that line her shelves…

Book #4 in the Booktown Mystery Series

Review: This one is the least favorite of the series for me. It's kind of hard to believe a launch party would bring out no one - not even for the free food. Still Tricia has discovered a mystery to solve.

Murder is Binding

Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2008)(A Booktown Mystery)

When she moved to Stoneham, city slicker Tricia Miles met nothing but friendly faces. And when she opened her mystery bookstore, she met friendly competition. But when she finds Doris Gleason dead in her own cookbook store, killed by a carving knife, the atmosphere seems more cutthroat than cordial. Someone wanted to get their hands on the rare cookbook that Doris had recently purchased-and the locals think that someone is Tricia. To clear her name, Tricia will have to take a page out of one of her own mysteries-and hunt down someone who isn't killing by the book.

Book #1 in the Booktown Mystery Series

Review: Meet Tricia Miles, her cat Mrs. Marple, her employee Ginny, and the town of Stoneham New Hampshire. The series is called Booktown because of an idea Bob Kelly, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, had to bring income to the town by making downtown a small village of bookstores. When a neighboring bookstore owner is murdered, Tricia is harassed by the local cop - a woman who it seems is a rival for the affections of one of ladies' man and insurance agent. The cop has all but decided that Tricia is guilty. Tricia, and her visiting sister, Angelica, must find the killer before she's arrested for murder.

Buffalo West Wing

Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2011)(A White House Chef Mystery)

With a new First Family, White House executive chef Olivia Paras can't afford to make any mistakes. But when a box of take-out chicken mysteriously shows up for the First Kids, she soon finds herself in a "no-wing" situation. After Olivia refuses to serve the chicken, the First Lady gives her the cold shoulder. But when it turns out to be poisoned poultry, Olivia realizes the kids are true targets.

Hail to the Chef

Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2008)(White House Chef Mystery)

White House executive chef Ollie Paras has to put her own interests on the back burner when a kindly electrician is electrocuted to death, and the First Lady’s nephew dies in an apparent suicide less than 24 hours after cleaning shrimp with Ollie. Ollie suspects something fishy is going on. She’ll have to watch her back—and find a killer unlikely to be pardoned.

Eggsecitive Orders

Eggsecutive Orders by Julie Hyzy (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2010)(A White House Chef Mystery)

When NSA big shot Carl Minkus dies right after eating the dinner Olivia Paras's staff had prepared, all forks point to them. Now the Secret Service is picking apart the kitchen-and scrutinizing the staff's every move. The timing couldn't be worse with the White House Lawn Easter Egg Roll to prep for without access to a kitchen. Olivia must find the real culprit-before she cracks under pressure.

State of the Onion

State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2008) (White House Chef Mystery) (#1)

White House Chef Olivia Paras is trying to earn her dream job - Executive Chef of the White House. She has to contend with a former chef cum tv cooking diva who is also trying to get the job. However, while on her way back from picking up the current Executive Chef's retirement gift, a frying pan, she stops an intruder on the White House grounds who was evading the Secret Service agents to get to the President. Try as she might, she can't wash her hands of the matter once she becomes a witness to a murder. Then her Secret Service boyfriend warns her the killer is a world class assassin - and she might be the only person alive who can recognize him.

Julie Hyzy writes a mean mystery. This is the first of a four book series based around the position of Executive Chef to the White House. Exciting read.

Awards: 2009 Lovey Award for Best Traditional Mystery, 2009 Anthony Award winner, 2009 Barry Award winner for Best Paperback

Murder Most Frothy

Murder Most Frothy by Cleo Coyle (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2006) (A Coffeehouse Mystery)

Clare Cosi’s Friend Millionaire David Mintzer gives Clare, her daughter Joy, and Clare’s former Mother-in-law an all expenses paid working vacation in the Hamptons for the summer. Clare is the Coffee Steward of Cuppa J, a new restaurant in the Hamptons, and is to train the staff. On the Fourth of July night, with all the fireworks overhead and a perfect time for a murder, Clare stumbles upon the body of an employee in David’s bathroom. Is it a botched attempt on the millionaire’s life or was the employee targeted? Clare starts to investigate because the cops are stuck in traffic and she’s concerned for everyone’s safety.

Cleo Coyle writes an excellent series and this book is no exception. Clare is a very dynamic character, and doesn't hesitate to jump in when the cops seem to be more clowns than able to solve the case. Her jumbled relationship adds a bit of humor and reality - an ex-husband who she has to work with, an ex-mother-in-law who refuses to accept the divorce (and who owns the business Clare runs) and a daughter who won't listen.

Murder Under Cover

Murder Under Cover by Kate Carlisle (Obsidian Mystery, 2011) (A Bibliophile Mystery)

Brooklyn Wainwright, bookbinder extraordinaire, receives a copy of the Kama Sutra from her best friend Robin, to appraise and restore. But before she can begin, Robin appears at Brooklyn's San Francisco apartment covered in blood, with a murdered man in her bed. Soon Brooklyn and her boyfriend, British security expert Derek Stone are up to their eyes in murder, intrigue and international conspiracy.

This is a wonderful series full of great people with a captivating plot. Wonderfully written. Brooklyn is a dynamic character, who is all too human (especially when it comes to Derek). She comes into her own when she touches a rare book, and never seems to have her tools too far away. Brooklyn's mother is more of an over-the-hill hippie who raised Brooklyn on a commune in Dharma. There is a love-hate relationship with SFPD Detective Inspector Janice Lee. Brooklyn's main returning adversary is Minka LaBoeuf, another bookbinder.

Wrecked

Wrecked by Carol Higgins Clark (Pocket Books Fiction, 2010) (A Regan Reilly Mystery)

Private Investigator Regan Reilly and her husband, Jack "no relation" Reilly, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad, are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. They are looking forward to a quiet romantic weekend out of town. Wouldn’t you know their choice of destination provides them with anything but!
Regan and Jack had considered going to Bermuda, but instead they decide to spend four days at his parents’ beautiful beachfront home on Cape Cod, a wonderful spot where they’d never been alone. During the summer the house overflowed with Jack’s family, bubbling with activity from morning until night. But to be up there for a weekend in April, just the two of them, sounded like a perfect escape.
Arriving at the Cape late at night, Regan and Jack are just in time to experience the beginning of a major storm. The next morning, Cape Cod Bay is quite a sight, churning with whitecaps. The wind is howling ferociously. Sheets of rain are pelting the house. Regan is looking forward to settling in the den with Jack and watching the storm.
However, the best laid plans . . .
In the bedroom, Regan opens the curtains to find Skip, the Reillys’ young caretaker, pressing his nose against the glass, supposedly checking for leaks. A moment later, Jack arrives home from the market, two gossipy older women who live up the street in tow. A branch crashed through their living room window, and they need a place to stay. When Regan thought things couldn’t get any worse, Skip comes running into the house, distraught that he’d just discovered Adele Hopkins, the woman renting the house next door, in a heap at the bottom of her staircase to the beach. Regan and Jack run back down with him, but huge waves are crashing on the shore. Hopkins is gone, presumably swept out to sea.

Sleight of Paw

Sleight of Paw by Sofie Kelly (Obsidian Mystery, 2011) (A Magical Cats Mystery)

Kathleen is NOT a crazy cat lady. She may think she's crazy after seeing some of the things her cats Owen and Hercules, who adopted HER when she visited the Mysterious Wisteria Hill, and the captivating personalities of the boys has made her a cat lover. The cats have magical abilities that Kathleen can't explain, and won't tell anyone else about. The town librarian is up to her kitty crackers once again in this sequel to Curiosity Thrilled the Cat.

Who killed Agatha Shepherd, an elderly woman who seems to have helped everyone in town at one time or another? Hercules and Owen are sure Kathleen can handle it.

Sofie Kelly does a great job of portraying everyone, but especially Owen and Hercules. The cats have such a personality that you will look at your own cat, or the next cat you see, to see if they become invisible or walk through doors and walls, too. The mystery is riveting, and will leave you wondering who did it until the very end.

Book #2 in Magical Cats Mysteries

A Sheetcake Named Desire

A Sheet Cake Named Desire by Jacklyn Brady (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2011)(A Piece of Cake Mystery)

Cake Artist Rita Lucerno visits her hopefully soon-to-be ex-husband’s New Orleans shop, Zydeco Cakes, to get his signature on the papers that will finally end their marriage two years after they separated. She discovers her ex’s body. Between her former mother-in-law, Miss Frankie, wanting Philippe’s killer caught and proving to Detective Sullivan that she is not the prime suspect, Rita starts working on her own investigation.

Jacklyn Brady is off to a good start on this series set in Big Easy.

Sentenced to Death

Sentenced to Death by Lorna Barrett (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2011)(A Booktown Mystery)

Tricia Miles, owner of the mystery book shop Haven’t Got A Clue, is set on selling books during Stoneham, New Hampshire’s Founders’ Day celebration. However, Deborah Black, Tricia’s Friend and the organizer of Founders’ Day is killed while giving the opening speech when a small air craft crashes into the gazebo where she’s standing. Tricia has a feeling that it’s a little more than the tragic accident that the sheriff’s department claims. It’s up to her to prove it.

Lorna Barnett’s fifth in the line of Booktown Mysteries is as well written and drawing as the first. While there are hints to the identity of the murderer, it’s only at the very end that you will realize who it is.

Book #5 in the Booktown Mystery series

Antiques Flee Market

Antiques Flee Market by Barbara Allen (Kensington 2008) (Trash 'n' Treasures Mystery)

Tempest in the Tea Leaves

Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend (Berkley Prime Crime Mystery, 2011) (A Fortune Teller Mystery)

First of a new series. Sunny (Sylvia) Meadows, daughter of a Doctor and Lawyer, moves from New York City to Divinity New York to be a psychic. Along the way, a house (named Vicky) and a cat she names Morty finds her. However, it's not smooth sailing. On her first week in town, one of her clients dies, and she's the number one suspect. Sunny wants to clear her name, and the Mayor decides that she is to partner with the cop investigating the murder. Skeptic doesn't describe Detective Mitch Stone's opinion of Sunny's profession. He's determined to put her in jail for the murder, and have Morty put in a pound.

The book was good, tedious in places, but it has possibilities as a good series.

A Crafty Killing

A Crafty Killing by Lorraine Barrett (Berkley Prime Crime, 2011)(Victoria Square Mystery)

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra has been faltering-but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Kate can find the answer.

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly (Obsidian Mystery, 2011) (A Magical Cats Mystery)


When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen's fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there's something more to these felines. When murder interrupts Mayville's Music Festival, Kathleen finds herself the prime suspect. More stunning is her realization that Owen and Hercules are magical-and she's relying on their skills to solve a purr-fect murder.

Book #1 in Magical Cats Mysteries