Unfinished – Death by Dumpling

February 12, 2025

Normally, I don’t talk about the books I don’t finish. But, I wanted to mention Vivien Chien’s Death by Dumpling because I read over half the book before giving up. And, I know I’m in a minority here because several others have mentioned how...

Irish Soda Bread Murder by Carlene O’Connor, et Al

January 11, 2025

I always look forward to the mystery collections by Carlene O’Connor, Peggy Ehrhart, and Liz Ireland. Their collections contain three novellas with a common theme, a holiday or a food. This time, it’s Irish Soda Bread Murder in time for St. Patrick’s...

Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s by Liz Ireland

September 25, 2024

The fifth Mrs. Claus mystery, Mrs. Claus and the Nightmare Before New Year’s, is another delightful cozy by Liz Ireland. This time, April Claus has to recruit everyone to help keep Santaland a secret when three human strangers show up. It’s bad enough that...

The Grim Steeper by Gretchen Rue

September 10, 2024

It’s hard to go wrong with a cozy mystery featuring a tea shop/bookstore, a bookstore cat, and a witch. The Grim Steeper is the third in Gretchen Rue’s Witches’ Brew series. I like the setting, a small town in Washington. I also like the characters,...

What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley

September 04, 2024

It’s been five years since Alan Bradley’s last Flavia de Luce mystery. I was surprised to see his new one, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust. I thought he and Flavia had retired, although Flavia has so many fans. Eleven? Twelve? It’s hard...