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)

An Act of Foul Play by T. E. Kinsey

December 18, 2022

An Act of Foul Play by T. E. Kinsey

Lady Hardcastle and Florence Armstrong return for another adventure, this time investigating the murder of an actor in Bristol. Posing as a pair of socialites wanting to open an artsy theater, they go undercover to learn about the members of the company and who might have had a motive for wanting the man dead. They learn that just about everyone did, so they have to sort through the conflicting stories to get at the truth.

Such a fun series with two appealing heroines. This isn't Holmes and Watson - Flo is just as capable at solving a mystery as Lady H. Very enjoyable cozy read, highly recommended.

Bristol, England

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

November 10, 2022

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal and her friends Adeena and Elena have finally opened their cafe, the Brew-ha Cafe, in Shady Palms, IL, right next door to Lila's family's Filipino restaurant. They are getting ready to participate in the town's annual holiday bazaar, when Lila's prodigal cousin Ronnie returns home to Shady Palms as the new owner of the local winery. But when one of his financial backers dies suddenly after drinking one of Ronnie's wines, Ronnie is a prime suspect and Lila's aunt asks her to help clear his name.

This is the third book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series, a cozy mystery series centered around a Filipino family restaurant in a small town about 100 miles from Chicago. Lots of food and eating. There are recipes in the back of the books for some of the traditional Filipino dishes. I worked with Mia's mom, Marian, for years at the Chicago Public Library, and I know she is proud as heck of Mia. Very enjoyable mysteries.

Bibingka, a traditional Filipino coconut cake served during the Christmas holidays

All the Queen's Men by S. J. Bennett

April 13, 2022

All the Queen's Men by S. J. Bennett

After successfully investigating a case for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Captain Rozie Oshodi is once again on duty as one of the queen's private secretaries. The Queen relies on Rozie to keep her updated on the goings-on at the palace and head off any delicate issues. When there is a sudden flurry of disturbing letters to Buckingham Palace staff (including Rozie), senior staff tell Rozie that they have the matter in hand and not to bother the queen. But when one of the targeted staff, an unpopular housekeeper, is found dead by the palace swimming pool, Rozie knows it's time to alert the queen, since she knows something the rest of the staff don't: the Queen is the best sleuth among them and can often see things that others miss.

This is the second installment in Bennett's series featuring Rozie and Queen Elizabeth II as palace detectives. This one isn't as much fun as the first mystery was, although it did continue to flesh out Rozie's background and her relationship with the queen. With the queen's passing (God rest her, she will be greatly missed especially now that Charles is king), I hope that the author will continue the series. 

Buckingham Palace

Homicide and Halo-halo by Mia Manansala

March 14, 2022

Homicide and Halo-halo by Mia Manansala

Lila Macapagal continues to live in her hometown of Shady Palms a hundred miles from Chicago. Since solving the mystery of who killed her old boyfriend, she has been just drifting along, still working as a waitress at her aunt's restaurant, unable to push herself to open her new cafe with her BFF. When the town council decides to resurrect the teen beauty pageant, Lila is drafted as a judge since she won the pageant many years before. When another judge is murdered, Lila's cousin Bernadette looks like the most likely suspect. Although the two cousins have a rocky relationship, they join forces to find the real killer and clear Bernadette's name.

This is the author's second mystery and she wrote it during the pandemic and admits that it's not as light-hearted as the first one. I still found it to be enjoyable. I worked with Mia's mom at the Chicago Public Library for many years and they are a lovely family. We are all so proud of Mia!

Halo-halo is a Filipino dessert made with fruits like coconut, banana, and jackfruit, fruity gelatin, ube (which is purple yam, although I've seen recipes that omitted the ube and substituted mangoes instead) and shaved ice. Traditionally, you're supposed to mix it together before eating it so you get a taste of everything in a single bite.

A dish of halo-halo

The Mystery of Montague Morgan by Karen Baugh Menuhin

January 11, 2022

The Mystery of Montague Morgan by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox is spending a relaxing December day at his comfortable country house with his golden spaniel Fogg and cat Tubbs when his friend ex-Inspector Swift contacts him in a panic. Swift has entered into an arrangement for a broker named Montague Morgan to sell the Scotch whiskey that Swift's wife's family produces at their Scotland estate. Unfortunately, Morgan has disappeared along with Swift's money, and if they can't find Morgan, Swift, his wife, and her father will all be bankrupted. Lennox agrees to help him find Morgan, even though Lennox's wedding to Persi is just days away on Christmas Eve.

They look into Morgan's background and discover that he is a charming and successful rogue, ruthless in business at times. But recently, Morgan found the love of his life and has been making plans to take his lover away to faraway lands with Morgan's ill-gotten gains. But Swift isn't the only one who wants his money - there are dangerous people who want their gold back and will stop at nothing to get it. They track Morgan to his country house and get trapped there in a snowstorm, with a mixed group of people also looking for Morgan. What happened to Montague Morgan? Will Swift get his money for the whiskey that Morgan sold? And will Lennox solve the mystery of Montague Morgan and get to the church in time for his wedding?

Too much fun from #7 in the Heathcliff Lennox series. Wide cast of characters in this one, although the faithful Greggs, Fogg, and Tubbs all accompany Lennox as always (Greggs finds romance in the kitchen, as usual). Next installment coming out Summer 2022.

Murder at the Mayfair Hotel by C. J. Archer

September 27, 2021

Murder at the Mayfair Hotel by C. J. Archer

After the death of her beloved grandmother and guardian, orphaned Cleopatra Fox moves into the luxurious London hotel owned by her uncle, just as they are preparing for the holiday season. But the poisoning of a hotel guest throws everything into chaos. It seems no one can be trusted, not even the handsome and charming assistant manager. With the hotel's future hanging by a thread, Cleo must find the killer before the hotel's famous New Year's Ball.

This is the first book in a series and I didn't like it enough to continue. The main character jumped to conclusions and accused people haphazardly, resulting in two people losing their jobs. The side characters are much more interesting and much more developed than the main character. There is good historical detail about London at the end of the 19th century.