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Amateur Sleuth

Review

Young Rich Widows

by Henrietta Thornton

Krystle, Meredith, Justine, and Camille are thrown together when their law-firm owning husbands, and in the case of Meredith, her girlfriend, are killed in a plane crash. The wives already knew and hated one another; the lone female partner in the firm was in the closet (it’s 1985), but is now firmly out, and Meredith joins in the animosity and puzzlement that’s freely flowing. Why were the partners on a plane back to Providence, Rhode Island from New York City, when they were supposed to be working in Providence that day? The reasons slowly become clear as the women are targeted by the town’s mafia for money that the deceased owed. Just when that danger wraps up, a twist hits the widows and readers as another…and another…perilous situation bears down on them. This book began life as an Audible original and its backbiting humor mixed with love and loathing makes it easy to see why it was such a hit and was brought to print. The authors’ note (there’s also a reading-group guide) explains that ‘90s humor-laden novels such as Married to the Mob and The First Wives Club provided inspiration; grab Young Rich Widows for some nostalgia, but it’s also just a fun romp for any thriller lover.

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Review

Hammers and Homicide

by Jeff Ayers

Dawna Carpenter runs a hardware store in downtown Pine Bluff, Oregon. She struggles to keep it going, especially after the death of her beloved husband, Bob. The building shares space with a boutique, and the woman who runs Lipstick and Lace is a real piece of work. A real-estate developer in town has bold plans to open a luxurious hotel, but when he’s found dead in the hardware store’s bathroom, Dawna’s life gets turned upside down even more than she thought possible. The quirky cast of characters, the slowly building mystery, and the light-hearted tone make Hammers and Homicide a terrific debut. Charles also does an outstanding job of addressing how people deal with the grief of losing a loved one, without being overly depressing. Readers will be fixing to read more mysteries of this series and Paula Charles.

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Review

Death by Demo: A Home Renovation Mystery

by Brian Kenney

In cozies, we often meet our hero when they are in a state of flux, and Death by Demo is a classic example. Jaime is recently divorced—her husband was having an affair—and the prenuptial she signed without reading has left her nearly broke. She and her ne’er-do-well ex-husband ran a highly successful construction and interior design firm in Charlotte, NC, but now all she’s left with is a dilapidated Queen Anne style house and her best friend’s couch. While everyone expects Jaime to sell the house, she takes a certain liking to it and decides to renovate it on her own. That’s part of what makes this book so interesting, watching Jamie—who’s a real carpenter—put the historic home back together while she ruminates on how her life fell apart. But in the midst of some serious demolition, she comes across a body walled up in her new home. Tragic, for sure. But also annoying, as the house is now declared a crime scene and Jaime is forced to abandon the one thing that’s keeping her sane. Until it dawns on her that maybe law enforcement needs a little help. Well-written, nicely plotted, with great insights into the renovation industry and a cute and sensitive next door neighbor. Cozy readers will delight in this discovery.

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Review

Sniffing out Murder

by Brian Kenney

A classic—but in no way cliched—cozy that features a great lead, a best friend, murder(s), two uniformed love interests, a good dollop of gossip, and a bloodhound that pretty much steals the story. Priscilla (aka Pris) is a former teacher who just published her first children’s book, The Adventures of Bailey the Bloodhound, which has landed on the bestseller list. She’s now in the process of moving back to her hometown of Crosbyville, Indiana to finish the series when she comes across the mean girl to end all mean girls, Louboutin- and Givenchy-clad Whitney Kelley. Whitney is on the school board, and she can’t help but mouth off about everything she’s planning to cut—like social programs and art—and Paris’s favorite: a pet-assisted reading program (guess who stars in that?). Have no doubt, words are exchanged! Flip to the next morning, when Bailey and Pris are off on their walk, although Bailey won’t stop pulling Pris over to the begonia bed…and a very dead Whitney, face-down in the plantings. Readers will love this down-to-earth lead, big-time problems in a small town world, and the consistently fast pace of the narrative. Cozy fans may know Kallie E. Benjamin as V. M. Burns, the author of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery, Dog Club Mystery, RJ Franklin Mystery, and Baker Street Mystery series.

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Review

A Furry Little Christmas

by Brian Kenney

The perfect introduction to the delightful Berenson, this volume brings together two previously published novellas—and five standard poodles!—set during Christmas in Connecticut. Narrated by the funny yet tough Melanie Travis, the first novella, Wagging Through the Snow, features Melanie’s brother, who spontaneously purchases a deserted Christmas tree farm without discussing the sale with anyone, including his business partner. When the family goes to check out the farm, they stumble across a corpse tucked into a drift of snow. Could things get any worse? Yes, and when Melanie, assisted by the ever-present curmudgeon Aunt Peg, starts to ask questions, motives abound. In Here Comes Santa Paws, Melanie gets a call from Claire, her good friend (and wife of Melanie’s ex-husband…it’s complicated), asking her to meet up at a client’s house. Melanie arrives at the home only to find the client, dead, lying in a pool of blood, and Claire waiting to be interrogated by the cops. Claire is acting weird—not that she doesn’t have every right to be upset—but once the cops are done with her she jumps in her car and races away without a word to Melanie. What’s going on? Leave it to Melanie and Aunt Peg to get to the bottom of the mystery. Lucky readers just discovering Melanie, her dogs, and her family have several armfuls of books to enjoy.

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Review

The Twelve Books of Christmas

by Henrietta Thornton

No sooner does San Francisco bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright get a break from sleuthing at a Scottish castle than she’s invited back to Scotland for a wedding and must again save the day. On Christmas Eve, Brooklyn gets a call announcing that her friends Claire and Cameron—Laird McKinnon, thank you—are getting married in a week. Brooklyn, her partner, and her parents are soon off to Castle McKinnon, on the shore of Loch Ness. At first only Brooklyn’s (meticulously described) book-restoring skills are in demand, as the bride-to-be wants a precious volume from the castle’s extensive library repaired for her beau. Then Claire also confides that 12 books, all of them set at Christmas and some very valuable, are missing from the shelves. But that investigation soon takes a back seat as a young man who works at the castle is found dead, not the last to meet a sad end. There’s a lot packed in here, from yummy food descriptions (there might also be a drink or two) to a family whose members are intent on grabbing a noble title and from archery competitions to Scotland’s Hogmanay traditions. It all comes together beautifully to create an atmospheric puzzle that fans of the author and newcomers will find festive and engaging.

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Review

Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas

by Brian Kenney

Rudolph, New York is one of those unique places where the holidays are celebrated 24/7/365. In fact, the town has branded itself as America’s Christmas town, and nearly every shop in the bustling downtown caters to some type of holiday need, including Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, the gift shop owned by our narrator, Merry Wilkinson. This holiday season, the town is in a lather over the local amateur production of the musical version of “A Christmas Carol,” with Aline, Merry’s mom, a retired opera singer, taking the lead role. From the leadership down to the cast and crew, rivalries abound and nearly everyone has an ax to grind. But when one of the cast members is found dead in Merry’s shop, everyone starts to look guilty, including Aline. This is an expansive cozy—with quite a number of characters floating about—but Delany never allows the reader to become overwhelmed. Fans of Donna Andrews will love this sixth installment in the series.

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Review

Baking Spirits Bright

by Brian Kenney

Yes, I would happily move to Larch Haven, Vermont—and after 20 pages in this book, you would too. Except, perhaps, for the slight issue with murder. Former actress Becca Ransom has taken up a new career as a chocolatier and moved back to hometown Larch Haven. All is going super—relatives are actually helpful, she has a best friend she can rely on—until she is cajoled into entering the Baking Spirits Bright holiday baking competition. Turns out this annual event isn’t just popular, it’s a beacon for the seriously anxious and unpleasant…one of whom ends up murdered, killed with Becca’s own chocolate chipper (ouch! It’s a six-pronged device used to break up chocolate or ice. Look it up.) We know the drill: Becca needs to solve the mystery to clear her record. But with a cute cop in her court, I wasn’t too worried. A fun, classic holiday cozy that features a great cast of characters.

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Review

I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died

by Brian Kenney

Flower does a magnificent job of opening up the world of mid-19th century Amherst, the Dickinson family, and especially young Emily, who has yet to become the eccentric recluse of her later years. In this volume, Austin and his wife have returned from their wedding trip and moved into the mansion next door to the family home, just in time to welcome their houseguests Ralph Waldo Emerson—who has come to lecture at Amherst College—and his secretary, Luther. Narrated by Emily’s maid Willa Nobel, we’re privy to all the family gossip, while Emily seeks a way to share her writing with Emerson. But the death of young Luther, who’s found in a bed of black-eyed Susans, sets Emily and Willa on a path to satisfy the great Emerson’s questions, quell the vociferous speculation, and clear the Dickinson name. This series is historical crime fiction at its best, balancing insight into the past with a fast-moving investigation into the crime.

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Review

Board to Death

by Jeff Ayers

Ben Rosencrantz leaves his job as an English professor and returns home to Sugar House, a suburb of Salt Lake City, newly divorced from his husband and ready to help his ailing dad run the family’s game shop. The store is struggling financially, so Ben’s initially torn when Clive, a customer known for unscrupulous methods, offers a chance to buy a rare board game worth thousands of dollars. But when Ben tells the seller no thanks, Clive is livid. The next time Ben sees Clive is when his dead body lands on the store’s doorstep. Ben and Ezra, the cute florist from next door, decide to investigate on their own but quickly learn that the case is no game. Connor’s large and charming cast of characters is so engaging that the mystery, while fun to solve, is just icing on a multi-layer cake. Many cozy mysteries have recipes in the back of the book, but this one has rules for a fun game and questions for your next book club meeting. Whether you are a fan of LGBTQ fiction or not, this is a terrific debut.

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