"Cocaine Blues" (#61)

"Cocaine Blues"

(First 'Phryne Fisher Mystery')

by

Kerry Greenwood

"This is where it all started! The first classic Phryne Fisher mystery, featuring our delectable heroine ......... and adventure. Phryne leaves the tedium of English high society for Melbourne, Australia, and never looks back."

"The London season is in full fling at the end of the 1920s, but the Honorable Phryne Fisher--she of the green-grey eyes, diamant garters and outfits that should not be sprung suddenly on those of nervous dispositions--is rapidly tiring of the tedium of arranging flowers, making polite conversations with retired colonels, and dancing with weak-chinned men. Instead, Phryne decides it might be rather amusing to try her hand at being a lady detective in Melbourne, Australia."

Looks like a fun series!!!

To read more reviews, please click here, and go to Good Reads.

"The Body On The Beach" (#59)

"The Body On The Beach"

by

Simon Brett

First book in the "Fethering Mystery" Series

"In the seaside hamlet of Fethering, Carole Seddon maintains a quiet life and doesn't have the tolerance to deal with her bohemian neighbor, Jude. Carole discovers a dead body on the beach with two wounds to the neck, but police dismiss her story when they can't find the body. When a stranger warns Carole to keep quiet, she confides in Jude."

A Cozy Mystery Series, set in a small English town...  Sounds delightful.  And the Series does get better, since I've already read the second book...  But in this the first, the heroine is quite up-tight and not so loveable....  

But, at least, she isn't into knitting, baking, selling old books, scrap-booking, making her own soaps, etc.  -gigggles-  Seems there are so, so, so many Cozys, which are way-too-themed.  

To read more reviews of this book, please click on this link....   Thank you. 

"Dog On It" (#55)

"Dog On It"

by

Spencer Quinn

"...Chet and Bernie. This charming detective duo make their debut in Dog On It, the first volume in Spencer Quinn's new mystery series. The fast-paced and funny tale is narrated by the inimitable Chet, Bernie's best friend and canine partner, whose personality and preferences are never in doubt: "I liked to sleep at the foot of Bernie's bed, but my..."

I've never read a book, written from a dog's point of view before.  It was fun.  

You can read lots of reviews of this book, by clicking here, please.

#55

"If Books Could Kill"

"If Books Could Kill"

by

Kate Carlisle

-sigh-  Seduced by this particular cover art.  -sigh-  And it did sound promising.  But....  T'was way too much romantic chick-lit for me.  ("Dare" I say, kinda' too-good-to-be-true, and silly, chick-lit...)  

So I didn't really enjoy it, as a "cozy," for me, that is.  But!  To read other reader's takes on this book, please click here.

#49

"Murder By Mocha"

"Murder By Mocha"

by

Cleo Coyle

This is #10 in the "Coffeehouse Mystery" Series.  But the first one, I have read.  So I may well not have enjoyed the book, in the satisfying way, in which a Series Follower would.  I did enjoy the read, just not like others have. 

Another possibility (for my not being thrilled with it) is the sad fact that I can no longer enjoy real coffee or chocolate.  (Guess I liked the Coffeehouse atmosphere....)   But the choice of this book topic, was rather silly of me.   

All you who can enjoy both coffee and chocolate, have a ball with this cozy.  :-)  Read more of what others have said, by clicking here....

#48

"Curiosity Thrilled The Cat"

"Curiosity Thrilled The Cat"

by

Sofie Kelly

Another fun "Cozy" Mystery.  

"When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life."
 

Another librarian, and cats...  But these cats seem to have *interesting* abilities...  Also "but", they remain quite cat-like.  Which is refreshing.

Fun read...  Other than the "nit-pick" that the author named one cat "Owen," and then named a human character "Oren."  -sigh-  Had to concentrate, to keep the two names/cat/character straight.

Read more about this book, by clicking here and going to "Good Reads."

#44

"A Death In The Small Hours"

"A Death In The Small Hours"

by

Charles Finch

To quote a review; "This is a tidy little mystery set in Victorian England."   Another "Cozy," played out in a small English town.  Nice.  But I didn't enjoy the Cricket description.  -pout-

Me thinks' I should try an earlier book, in this Series...  When the main man is still sleuthing more...  

You can read more about this book, by clicking here...  Please and thank you.

#38

"A Room Full of Bones"

"A Room Full of Bones" by Elly Griffiths

The 4th book in the 'Ruth Galloway Mystery Series'...  I've been reading this "Ruth Galloway Mystery Series" in all sorts of hap-hazard fashion!  LOL.  Read the 2nd one, before the 1st.  Now read the 4th, after reading the 5th.

I love the whole series, and have been able to follow along, even with my random method.  No, I don't suggest that anyone else do it this way!  

Get "The Crossing Places."  And I bet you'll be intrigued by "Ruth," not your usual gorgeous heroine.  And doesn't that, sound like a great idea???

Click here, to go to a list of these books...

#34

"Bayou Moon"

"Bayou Moon"  by C.L. Bevill

Loved this book and it kept me guessing, guessing, guessing.  Hometown girl (Mignon) returns to her hometown of LaValle, Louisiana to investigate what really happened to her mother, years ago.

You've got that intriguing title... set in the deep south...  an antebellum mansion... the "have's" and the "have not's"...  how they interact... years ago and to this day... murder... secrets... revenge... etc.  Oh, and add a ghostly touch too.

Deeeeelicious!!!!!!!!!!

You can read more, by clicking here-->Good Reads... 

#33

"Snow White Must Die"

"Snow White Must Die"  by Nele Neuhaus

I read that this was an international best seller, so i was hooked.

from good reads:

"Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus isa tremendous new contemporary mystery series and huge international bestseller—with more than3.5 million copies in print!"  ...

 not being used to this type of book, i didn't "get into it" right away.  but stuck with it and glad i did.  

From another review, on good reads"

"With "Snow White Must Die" (Minotaur Books 2013), Nele Neuhaus shows the reading world that she can spin a tale steeped in small town politics, local culture, European geography, and that places the reader at the epicenter of a grisly mystery. Does that sound easy? It's not, proven by how many failed authors litter..."

#29

"Raven Black"

"Raven Black"  by  Ann Cleeves

From Good Reads...

"Raven Black begins on New Year’s Eve with a lonely outcast named Magnus Tait, who stays home waiting for visitors who never come. But the next morning the body of a murdered teenage girl is discovered nearby, and suspicion falls on Magnus."

A thriller!  Yes, a thriller!  I enjoyed it.  I admit that the author kept me guessing...  Which for me, is a good read.   

It seemed to sort of slow down, in the middle.  But once the story "got wind in its sails" again, it whipped along.

If you enjoy a mystery, set in another part of the world, which lets the atmosphere-of-place seep into your bones, you'll enjoy this book. 

#28

"Knots And Crosses"

"Knots And Crosses"  by Ian Rankin

First book in his "Inspector Rebus" series

I recently read the last book, in this series.  Wanted to know how it all began.  So I got this First in the Series.  Liked it, as well.  Not light or hippity-happy-reading.  Gritty.  But I like "Rebus," and I've now enjoyed reading 2 books about him.  Want the next one...

From a "Good Reads" Review:

"Detective John Rebus: His city is being terrorized by a baffling series of murders...and he's tied to a maniac ................. Once John Rebus served in Britain's elite SAS. Now he's an Edinburgh cop who hides from his memories, misses promotions and ignores a series of crank letters. But as the ........................ killings mount and the tabloid headlines scream, Rebus........."

You can read more about this book, by clicking on this link, and going to "Good Reads."

#27