Everyone in This Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

June 26, 2026

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

After the publication of his third book, Ernest Cunningham and his fiancee Juliette are seeking a bank loan to open a detective agency. But when they arrive at the bank for their appointment, they learn that rather than discuss a bank loan, the bank manager wants Ernest to take on a new case.

Another locked-room mystery in the Ernest Cunningham series, this time set in a bank. All of the mysteries follow the rules of the Golden Age mysteries, such as not introducing a new character who turns out to be the villain late in the story, and a parlor-type reveal at the end. This one was really twisty, with ten suspects and ten thefts. The characters are quirky, there is a lot of dry humor, and the ending is unexpected, although it took a long time to get there. I did think the center of the book dragged. Will appeal to fans of Knives Out or Glass Onion.

The Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery

July 15, 2026

The Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery

On the eve of the return of Halley's Comet in 1910, Stephen Pike arrives to take up a position as a footman at a country house called Tithe House, located on a peninsula known as World's End. World's End off the coast of Cornwall is a tidal island, which means that when the tide comes in, the peninsula is cut off from the mainland and becomes an island for up to 18 hours until the tide goes out again. Stephen also learns that his new employer is an eccentric who believes that the comet's tail is bringing poisonous cyanide gases that will kill off all life forms. He has all the doors and windows boarded up, and issues orders that all guests, residents and staff are to sequester themselves in their quarters until morning when the noxious vapors will have passed. But after what was otherwise a quiet night in the sealed up house, the staff and the family wake up to discover that one of them has been murdered in the night. And not by the comet. Because of his criminal background, Stephen is quickly singled out as the likely culprit. He realizes he has to discover the murderer and solve the crime unless he wants to find himself back in prison or worse.

I love a mystery set in an English country house. The characters are always guilty of something, not to mention eccentric, and the family here is no exception. Ex-con Stephen is young and naive and good-hearted, just grateful to have a job and wanting people to like him. His unexpected sleuthing partner is Aunt Decima, a foul-mouthed octogenarian who is easily the smartest person in the house and a fabulous character. She does not suffer fools gladly and has no qualms about dropping the f-bomb frequently. A cross between an Agatha Christie locked-room mystery and Downtown Abbey or Upstairs/Downstairs. Very enjoyable.

A tidal island with the causeway connecting it to the mainland underwater at high tide

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

May 18, 2026

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

Ship's detective Dorothy Gentleman is back for a new case, this time to solve a supposedly impossible mystery: the appearance of a baby on the interstellar luxury cruise ship the Fairweather. On Old Earth, babies were a common enough occurrence, but all the passengers on the ship have been modified to prevent such an event until they read their final port. So how did this happen, and more importantly, who made it happen? With the ship's limited space and resources, Dorothy needs to solve the mystery and make sure it doesn't happen again.

The second adventure for Dorothy Gentleman, ship's detective on the luxury star liner Fairweather. I love the world that the author is creating and want to know more about life aboard the ship, the passengers, and how they all came together. Also about Ferry, the ship's AI who (sort of) controls everything aboard the ship. Dorothy's nephew Ruthie and his husband John are delightful characters (John is a master mixologist who mixes cocktails that evoke a certain time or place, such as a sunset on a summer evening, which would be nice, since most cocktails evoke poor decisions and regret). A quirky read but in a good way. Looking forward to more Dorothy adventures.

Also, can someone please tell me what port this ship leaves from? I want to book a stateroom right away.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Librarians by Sherry Thomas

April 30, 2026

The Librarians by Sherry Thomas

When two of their patrons are murdered after a mystery game night, four librarians at a library in Austin, TX, are forced to band together to solve the crimes.

DNF at 25%. Being a librarian, I thought I was going to love this but it was disappointing, Characters have silly quirks but not for any specific reason (like one librarian talks with a Swedish accent but she's not Swedish and doesn't know Swedish). Disappointing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Disaster Gay Detective Agency by Lev AC Rosen

March 24, 2026

The Disaster Gay Detective Agency by Lev AC Rosen

When hotel clerk Brandon falls in love (again) after a one-night stand with Jon, his new love ghosts him. Convinced that Jon is the man of his dreams, he persuades his three best friends to help him track down the new man. But when they witness a murder that Jon appears to be involved in, they realize that there is a lot more going on than just a guy who led Brandon on, and that they may be in way over their heads.

The strong sense of friendship was one of the most appealing things about this mystery. But the characters are all quirky just for the sake of being quirky, and the last half of the story was extremely repetitive (do we really need to read the exact same texts and get the exact same scene from four different POVs?). It took a long time to get to the solution. Disappointing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig

December 29, 2025

I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig

Carol Quinn is a convicted murderer who server her time and has been released from prison. Now she is moving to a posh retirement community in north London to live out her remaining years. But shortly after she moves in, another resident is found dead and suspicion immediately falls on Carol. To avoid being sent back to prison, Carol has to find the real killer.

This cozy mystery reads like the love child of The Thursday Murder Club and Only Murders in the Building, but with a very likeable former serial killer as the protagonist. The main character only killed people who really needed killing. A light enjoyable read, perfect for the post-Christmas weekend when I am shopped-out, fooded-out, holidayed-out, familied-out, and peopled-out. These characters aren't your grandpa or your great-aunt.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

May 9, 2025

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Four senior citizens who live in a post retirement community (and really have nothing else in common) entertain themselves by reviewing and investigating unsolved crimes. They meet every Thursday afternoon, hence the name of their group, the Thursday Murder Club, where they lay out all the evidence of a crime and assisted by a few bottles of wine, try to ascertain the perpetrator. When one of the contractors who works at the community is found dead in his kitchen, the club has their newest case, and this time it's a real active case.

The characters are what make this mystery, a group of smart quirky senior citizens with nothing but time on their hands and a certain joie de vivre. Entertaining but it did get a little drawn out (does the author have to cast suspicion on everyone? It got a little repetitious.). The police detectives are much more tolerant of the amateur detectives than in most mysteries. BTW, I would love to live in Coopers Chase. If you enjoy mysteries with quirky characters and amateur super sleuths, you'll enjoy this first book in a charming mystery series.

Yeah, this is who I though of right away (picture Sicily, 1922...)

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

April 17, 2025

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong - Chinese mother, tea house proprietor, and amateur sleuth - is back for another adventure. Life has been good for Vera since she solved the murder of the dead man in her tea shop. Business has been brisk, Vera has a new group of friends, and her son has a girlfriend. But in the midst of all this good fortune, Vera finds herself secretly bored. While she doesn't really want to see anyone get murdered, she feels she has a knack for collecting information (and people) and solving mysteries. So when a social media influencer disappears and an unidentified body is found, Vera just knows she can find the answer to both mysteries.

The sequel to Vera Wong's Guide to Murder, with a new cast of strangers who become friends added to the group that Vera collected in the first book. Vera learns about social media and influencers, posting videos of herself cooking and making tea while solving the problems of her new friends. Funny and heartwarming, recommended for readers of cozy mysteries who enjoy their mysteries with more humor and less romance than most cozies.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

What I imagine Vera's tea shop must look like

Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars

February 25, 2025

Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars

Drag queen Misty Divine leads a double life: by day, they are plain Joe Brown, accounts payable clerk for a rundown London hotel, but in the evening, they transform into Misty Divine, rising star and regular performer at Lady's Bar, London's premiere drag club. But when her mentor Lady Lady is found dead in her dressing room wearing a stolen dress, and the police seem more interested in finding an elusive cat burglar, Misty is determined to find out who murdered her beloved friend.

A fun and campy cozy mystery with a unique setting, the first book in a new series. The author did a good job of describing Joe's nightly metamorphosis into Misty, sharing their thoughts in both incarnations. While Joe tends to stay in the background at their day job, alter-ego Misty is bold, confident and not easily intimidated. And I loved the descriptions of Misty's wardrobe! The story is a little slow moving and Joe/Misty is a little stiff as an amateur sleuth, so there is a lot of room for growth in future mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Raja, a really beautiful drag queen from RuPaul's Drag Race

The Twelve Saints of Christmas by Karen Baugh Menuhin

February 7, 2025

The Twelve Saints of Christmas by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired inspector Jonathan Swift are called to a country estate just outside Bath to investigate a suspicious death at what appears to be a retirement home for the very wealthy. But intrigue bubbles just below the surface and Lennox and Swift are soon faced with a second suspicious death.

Lennox and Swift return for their 12th investigation among the toffs, with their usual cast of supporting characters, including Greggs the butler and ladies' man, Lennox's spaniel Mr. Fogg, and his chubby cat Tubbs. Unfortunately Mr. Foggs and Tubbs make only brief appearances, as do Persi and Florence, wives of Lennox and Swift. I love a country house mystery, especially one set at the holidays, and this one is great fun like all of the books in the series. I recommend starting at the beginning of the series if you haven't read any of the earlier books.

Yes, there really are baths in Bath, England, although I'm not sure I'd want to go soak in them

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley

December 14, 2024

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley

It's the holiday season in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, and against her better judgment, Delilah O'Leary, proprietor of the town's gourmet pizzeria, is catering a swanky holiday party. It's a pretty standard party: obnoxious party goers, drunken arguments, guest sneaking around near the bedroom, drama. The next day, Delilah witnesses an angry confrontation between the party's host and an unknown older woman, right before a dead body is found in the middle of the snow sculpture competition.

Fourth installment in the Deep Dish mystery series. Typical cozy where the bad guys get caught, the good guys prevail, and it all works out in the end. Recipes at the back. Recommended for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a food theme.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Who doesn't love a deep dish pizza?

Guilt and Ginataan by Mia Manansala

December 8, 2024

Guilt and Ginataan by Mia Manansala

It's time for the annual corn festival in Shady Palms, Illinois, and the owners of the Brew-ha Cafe are gearing up for the opening weekend. Known for the second biggest corn maze in the state, the festival draws crowds from all over the Midwest. After their booth sells out early, Lila, Adena and Elena decide to have a contest to see who can finish the corn maze first, but the fun comes to an abrupt end when they discover a body near the center of the maze.

A new mystery featuring the residents of Shady Palms. The aunties and Lola Flor don't appear in this story as much as in previous stories in the series, although there are still recipes at the end. Lila and Jae's sweet relationship continues to grow. Recommended for fans of cozy mysteries, especially those featuring food.

An example of ginataan, a sweet or savory Filipino dish cooked in coconut milk

The Belvedere Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 22, 2024

The Belvedere Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired Scotland Yard detective Jonathan Swift are asked by Lord Belvedere to attend a ball at his fabulous country estate to keep an eye on his daughter's suitor, a man named Jack Dutton who he believes is a a gold digger after his daughter's money. Despite their best efforts, during the ball, someone manages to shove Dutton from the roof of the mansion. 

Another adventure for Lennox and Swift, #11 in the series. The mystery here reminds me of books like Murder on the Orient Express, where all the characters have some connection to the murder victim. Furthermore, he is a shady character who needs to get murdered (no one likes a blackmailer or a drug dealer). I love a country house mystery, and this one ticks all the boxes: a beautiful house, a ball, aristocrats, jewels and ball gowns, snooty rich people who think they're above the law, a locked-room mystery. While you don't need to read the series in order, do it because the books are so much fun. Recommended for readers who enjoy British historical mysteries and dry humor.

Iron Age barrow in the the Cotswolds

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

March 16, 2024

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

When she was 17 years old, Frances Adams was told by a fortune teller that she would be murdered. She and her two best friends Emily and Rose had their fortunes told at a county fair but Frances was the only one who really took the fortune to heart. Although the three girls are inseparable, Emily is more of a frenemy than a real friend, wanting everything that Frances has - she is a typical mean girl (yawn - so tired of high school BS). She scoffs at Frances' concern over the fortune, then ironically, Emily is the one who goes missing a year later. 

Frances spent her life on her husband's country estate, guarding herself from others and perceived threats.  At the reading of her will, her heirs discover that Frances' money will go to the one who solves her murder - and they have a week to do it.

Clever Agatha Christie-esque premise that doesn't quite pan out, particularly disappointing since I am a fan of mysteries set in country houses. There is a large with a large cast of characters past and present that were hard to keep track of. The plot got muddled from the sheer number of characters past and present, with many of them part of family groups that have common last names. Annie, the main character, got a little annoying with her fainting at the sight of blood, syringes, etc. - I did wonder how she managed her monthly period. I would have like to know what Frances was up to for the last 50 years. There are hints that she meddled in the lives of others (including her niece Laura) but there is no follow up to these hints. There are also a number of dangling mini-plots that are left, well, dangling. Real fans of cozy mysteries who are less picky than I am will enjoy the setting and the characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Hemlock, which turns out to be a complete red herring

A Fire at the Exhibition by T. E. Kinsey

December 17, 2023

A Fire at the Exhibition by T. E. Kinsey

Lady Emily Hardcastle and her maid/sidekick/BFF Florence Armstrong are enjoying the May Day festival in their village of Littleton Cotterell, which includes the inaugural May Day art exhibit. In addition to artworks created by the local residents, there are pieces from the local museum and a few pieces borrowed from Sir Hector Farley-Stroud, plus a priceless volume of Shakespeare's plays. But shortly after the exhibition opens, thick black smoke rolls through the exhibit hall, causing the building to be evacuated. When the smoke clears, several pieces of art (including the Shakespeare volume) are missing. A few days later, following the local bicycle race, one of the riders is found dead.

The tenth adventure for Lady Hardcastle and Flo. There are three mysteries here: the art theft, the murder, and a possible secret treasure. Love the puns, witticisms, and malapropisms between Lady H. and Flo. Fun and relaxing.

Example of a ladies' cycling costume, circa 1920

Vera Wong"s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

December 12, 2023

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Vera Wong is a lady of a certain age who owns a failing tea shop in San Francisco's Chinatown. She adheres to a strict daily regimen of rising early and opening the shop, even though she has only one regular customer. This leaves her plenty of time to follow (read: stalk) her only son online. But one morning when she comes downstairs to open the tearoom, Vera finds a dead body on the tearoom floor.

Heartwarming cozy mystery. Vera is a nosy older woman who had advice for everyone, whether they want it or not. She's correct that 20 somethings tend to be self-focused and dramatic - I base that statement on the 20 somethings in my own family. Very enjoyable.

San Francisco's Chinatown

Murder Most Royal by SJ Bennett

November 18, 2023

Murder Most Royal by SJ Bennett

December 2016. The Queen and Prince Philip have just arrived at their home in Sandringham to celebrate Christmas with their family, when news arrives that a severed hand has washed up on a nearby beach. Not wanting to spoil the holiday, the Queen asks Rozie Oshodi, one of her private secretaries, to quietly monitor the situation and keep her updated.

I really enjoy this charming cozy mystery series featuring the late queen and Rozie. This third installment was a little disappointing, partly because Rozie isn't in it that much, and partly because the who aristocracy and inheritance thing is complicated and quite honestly archaic. But it's central to the mystery so it has to be explained to those of us outside of that realm. I also figured out who the killer was about halfway through the story but kept reading to make sure I was right. Hoping for better on the next book.

Sandringham Estate in Norfolk - to quote the Three Stooges, reminds me of the reform school

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

October 19, 2023

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal and company are back for another cozy mystery set in Shady Palms, Illinois. Her three godmothers April, Mae, and June (aka the Calendar Crew) are opening a laundromat, which has started a war with the owner of the only other laundromat in the town. Just in time for their grand opening, April's niece Divina arrives from the Philippines, and the aunties figure they'll put her to work at the laundromat to keep her busy. But someone doesn't want them to open and vandalizes the laundromat, and the suspect list is long, since the aunties have offended most of the town residents at some point with their nosiness and gossip. Then disaster really strikes a few days later when Divina is found dead next to a washer.

The fourth adventure in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen cozy mystery series, complete with recipes. This entry is not as strong as some of the earlier books, with a lot of filler about food and meals. The romantic relationships are progressing slowly. There are recipes in the back for some of the yummy dishes. I worked for many years with Mia's mom, and I am so glad to see that Mia is fulfilling her dream of being a writer. 

Mamon cakes, a fluffy chiffon-y cake often made with coconut

The Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell

September 26, 2023

The Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell

Tanz is an out-of-work actress who takes a job at a crystal shop until her next role. She is interested in New Age stuff so the job appears to be a good fit. But she gets more than she expected when she starts hearing voices in her head and realizes that they are the voices of dead people.

This was a quick and overall fun read with good characters and entertaining dialogue. The issue I had with the book is that the mystery doesn't start until about 2/3 of the way through the story. I think it's going to disappoint readers who are expecting a standard mystery. First book in a planned cozy mystery series.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Typical New Age metaphysical shop

Murder at Ashton Steeple by Karen Baugh Menuhin

August 11, 2023

Murder at Ashton Steeple by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Murder has come to Major Heathcliff Lennox's town of Ashton Steeple. A businessman, Devlin Saunders, is found dead on his balcony from an arrow wound to the heart. He is survived by his not-so-grieving widow, his married lover, and a host of business partners. Scotland Yard asks Lennox and retired Inspector Swift to investigate, but no sooner do they begin than another partner dies under suspicious circumstances. Lennox and Swift hurry to unravel the tangled strings that bind the partners together before more bodies turn up. Lennox also has a personal stake in the outcome.

Lennox's tenth outing with retired Inspector Swift, Greggs the butler, Foggy the golden spaniel, and Lady Persi, Lennox's new wife. I especially enjoy these mysteries since they are set at English country houses. Fun and entertaining as always.

The Cotswolds (exactly what you think of when you picture an English village)