Well, there’s something I seldom do. I read Booked for Revenge by Karen Rose Smith, the second book in a spin-off series, and I didn’t read the first book or the Daisy’s Tea Garden series where this came from. However, this cozy mystery works, with a strong cast, a little romance, and an amateur sleuth who is still struggling to find her place in the world after losses that left her reeling.

Jazzi Swanson lost her father when she was twelve, and a few years later, with her mother’s support, searched for her birth parents. It was only semi-successful, but her mother, Daisy Swanson, was always there for her. Now, Jazzi has moved away from their Pennsylvania home where her mother runs Daisy’s Tea Garden and has successfully assisted with a number of murder investigations.

Jazzi is the co-owner of Tomes & Tea, a bookshop and tea bar in rural New York. Her best friend, Dawn, is co-owner and they share an apartment and two kittens. They’ve been trying to increase events at the bookstore, and they’re hosting celebrity authors who are judging the local Gentlemen’s Bake-off. But, even on the first day, they observe judges and contestants arguing. Just before the announcements of the winning baker, Dawn finds a contestant bludgeoned to death.

Because of her mother, and her own experiences, Jazzi is used to death, but Dawn can’t handle the interviews with the police and the pressure from her parents. Although Jazzi tries to stay out of the investigation, when Dawn has a panic attack and turns on her parents and Jazzi, Jazzi decides to step in. What harm can it do to ask a few questions?

While the mystery takes centerstage in the second in this series, following Murder Marks the Page, there’s the possibility of romance for both Jazzi and Dawn in this one. The characters are well-developed, and readers will hope to watch both young women mature over the course of the series. While mystery readers who need to start from the beginning should pick up Murder Marks the Page, this cozy works just fine as a launching point.

Karen Rose Smith’s website is https://karenrosesmith.com/.

Booked for Revenge by Karen Rose Smith. Kensington Cozies, 2025. ISBN 9781496747068 (hardcover), 288p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley through NetGalley to review for a journal.