Books from the Backlog - The Unholy

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Unholy by Heather Graham

Blurb:  The 1940s: hard-boiled detectives and femmes fatale are box-office gold. In one iconic scene, set in a deserted museum, the private eye arrives too late, and the buxom beauty is throttled by an ominous Egyptian priest.

Now: the Black Box Cinema immortalizes Hollywood's Golden Age in its gallery of film noir tributes. But the mannequin of that Egyptian priest is hardly lifeless. He walks and a young starlet dies a terrifying death. Movie mogul Eddie Archer's son is charged with the grisly murder.

Eddie calls agent Sean Cameron, who specializes in irregular investigations. As part of an FBI paranormal forensics team, Cameron knows that nightmares aren't limited to the silver screen. Working with special-effects artist Madison Darvil who has her own otherworldly gifts Cameron delves into the malevolent force animating more than one movie monster.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  This is the next book that I need to read in the Krewe of Hunters series and the blurb looks pretty fantastic.

Double Grudge Donuts - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Double Grudge Donuts (Deputy Donuts Mystery #8) by Ginger Bolton

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  The countdown is on as Deputy Donut Café owner Emily Westhill gets ready for married life. But before she takes the plunge, she’ll need to poke a hole in a deadly criminal’s plans . . .

When the Fallingbrook Arts Festival rolls into town weeks before she’s set to tie the knot, Emily expects talent and friendly competition at the week-long summer series to go together like coffee and double fudge. But the fun crumbles fast after a lively bagpiper takes first place on day one and turns heads for the wrong reasons—all before Emily and her tabby cat find him dead in a clear case of murder. Along with a distinctive weapon at the crime scene, several strategically placed items leave disturbing clues about the killer’s identity, including a broken piece of a Deputy Donut mug . . .

While detectives aren’t sure who silenced the bagpiper’s music, they don’t trust Emily or her family to tell the truth. With her nuptials and career on the line, Emily launches an unsettling investigation to save herself from trouble and bring a dangerous figure to justice. The search not only brings too many suspects into the picture, but also leads to a strange discovery on Deputy Donut’s rooftop. A discovery that tells Emily she better get cooking, because someone may be watching her every move . . . and carefully plotting to turn a wedding into a funeral!

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoyed the previous book in the series so obviously I had to pick up the next book.

My Impression: I was so glad to get back to Emily's world with Dep the cat, her employees at Deputy Donut, her friends and family and of course lots of donut mentions!   The victim is basically ambushing musical performers with bagpipes so no one is sad to see him go but it makes for a fun read to figure out just who was pushed over the edge.  Other than the rogue bagpipe player most of the people who make up Emily's world are nice and people  I would actually want to spend time with.

I also like that Emily has common sense.  She's strongly connected with the police and communicates theories and listens to cautions.  It's refreshing after reading a number of mysteries with To Stupid To Live characters.  She also doesn't jump to conclusions like its her job which is another refreshing trait.  

The mystery itself is well done with an unlikable victim and a surplus of suspects.  I enjoyed the journey and this is a series I'm really looking forward to going back and reading from the beginning.  If you like a foodie cozies with a likable cast of characters this series is a must try - though you will want donuts before you're more than 20 pages in!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I've enjoyed both books that I've read in the series and I'm looking forward to going back and reading the series from the beginning.  I'll also be looking for the next book!

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy foodie cozies this series is definitely one I would recommend.  While I'm sure it's better read in order you can jump in anywhere without too much trouble.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Ill-Fated Fortune - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Ill-Fated Fortune (A Magical Fortune Cookie Mystery #1) by Jennifer J. Chow

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Felicity Jin grew up literally hanging onto Mom’s apron strings in their magical bakery in the quaint town of Pixie, California. Her mother’s enchanted baked goods, including puffy pineapple buns and creamy egg tarts, bring instant joy to all who consume them. Felicity has always been hesitant in the kitchen herself after many failed attempts, but a takeout meal gone wrong inspires her to craft some
handmade fortune cookies.

They become so popular that Felicity runs out of generic fortunes and starts making her own personalized predictions. When one customer’s ill-fated fortune results in his murder, Felicity’s suspiciously specific fortune has the police focusing on her as the main culprit. Now Felicity must find a way to turn her luck around and get cleared from suspicion...

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I can never resist the first book in a new cozy series and this one sounded really fun.

My Impression: This was a fun start to a new cozy series set in a little corner of a little town in California that has more than its share of magic.  Felicity is struggling to come to terms with her talent and where she fits in her family's legacy as well as figure out just what she wants and how she wants to live her life.  This could easily her into an angsty or immature main character but while she is definitely young and a bit impulsive she keeps on the right sign of that character line.  I couldn't help but sympathize and root for her.  The magic element is strong in the bakery and in the other areas in Felicity's life which I really enjoyed.

I enjoyed the mystery.  The victim was a dreadful man and figuring out who disliked him enough to want him dead was an entertaining read.  I loved the bits about baking though it did want me to go find a homemade fortune cookie and get a pineapple bun and an egg tart!  

I've been wanting to read this author's mysteries for awhile and I'm glad I picked up the first book in this series.  It was a fun mystery with a likable cast and a unique twist.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to seeing how the series develops. 

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes!  This is the first book in the series so the pacing gets slowed down a bit by the setup but if you enjoy cozies with a magical element this is a must read.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

A Smoking Bun - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: A Smoking Bun (A Bakeshop Mystery #18) by Ellie Alexander

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  The mountains are calling in Ashland, Oregon, where pastry chef turned amateur sleuth, Jules Capshaw, is baking up a bevy of spiced curry buns and chai cookies for a moonlit snowshoe tour. Ramiro’s family is visiting from Spain and Jules can’t wait to take them up to her beloved Mount A with its charming and rustic lodge, backcountry trails, and star-filled skies that stretch for miles. Their winter wonderland adventure is nothing short of magical and the merry party opts to return to the slope the next day for the Downhill Dummy.

The annual competition is a favorite amongst snow lovers. Contestants strap makeshift dummies to skis and send them hurling down a death-defying ski jump in hopes of catching big air. The team at Torte is in the mix this year with their own replica of a tiered cake and a baker who closely resembles their fearless leader. It’s a fun and festive atmosphere as dummies sail past the crowd to huge cheers and applause. Until one of the dummies takes a deadly detour and lands atop Fitz Baskin.

Fitz is a guide on the mountain and his icy dealings have made for frosty relationships with everyone he encounters. Suddenly there are more suspects than snowdrifts as Jules dives into the investigation. She unearths a web of secrets and motives that threaten to shake the rustic mountain lodge to its core. Can she catch the killer before they strike again, or will the truth be buried forever under fluffy layers of fresh snow?

Genre:  Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  This is one of my favorite cozy series so I pick up the newest book without even glancing at the blurb.

My Impression:  I have enjoyed pretty much every book in this series and this was no exception.  The mountains have long been a background of this series and skiing is frequently mentioned as Jules' long time barista is a big fan of snowboarding.  However, this is the first book where the ski resort has really been front and center in the mystery.  In fact, Jules and family come into contact with the victim when on a nighttime snowshoeing tour.  

The victim is not a likable guy.  Instead, its kind of amazing that he managed to survive long enough to get offed fairly early in the book.  I enjoyed following along for the investigation with Jules and spending time with the usual Torte crew as well as Lance and the other Ashland residents.  As well, I enjoyed spending more time with Ramiro and his family.

While you can easily jump into this series at any point it is best read in order as the relationships of the characters is very important.  As well, this series has the cozy mystery tendency to have a lot of side stuff going on.  We see Jules bake, spend time with Ramiro's family, spend time at Torte and go on adventures through Ashland.  While this is an absolute delight to long-time readers I imagine it could be a bit tedious if you are coming into the series part way through.  

This was a fun read in a thoroughly enjoyable series.  I was pulled into the book from the first page to the end and this is proving to be a series that never disappoints.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I've enjoyed everything I've read by this author.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you are a cozy mystery fan this is an absolute must read series - though I do recommend starting from the beginning.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Library Loves - The Cinderella Murder Review

Goodreads:  The Cinderella Murder (Under Suspicion #2) by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Library

Description:  Television producer Laurie Moran is delighted when the pilot for her reality drama, Under Suspicion, is a success. Even more, the program—a cold case series that revisits unsolved crimes by recreating them with those affected—is off to a fantastic start when it helps solve an infamous murder in the very first episode.

Now Laurie has the ideal case to feature in the next episode ofUnder Suspicion: the Cinderella Murder. When Susan Dempsey, a beautiful and multi-talented UCLA student, was found dead, her murder raised numerous questions. Why was her car parked miles from her body? Had she ever shown up for the acting audition she was due to attend at the home of an up-and-coming director? Why does Susan’s boyfriend want to avoid questions about their relationship? Was her disappearance connected to a controversial church that was active on campus? Was she close to her computer science professor because of her technological brilliance, or something more? And why was Susan missing one of her shoes when her body was discovered?

With the help of lawyer and Under Suspicion host Alex Buckley, Laurie knows the case will attract great ratings, especially when the former suspects include Hollywood’s elite and tech billionaires. The suspense and drama are perfect for the silver screen—but is Cinderella’s murderer ready for a close-up?

Genre: Mystery 

Why I Picked This Book:  I'm trying to read through the books on my Library list and last year I did a random number pick and this was one of them.  This was the only book left over from 2023 so of course I had to get it read!

My Impression:  It's been a long time since I've read anything by Mary Higgins Clark but I used to love her books.  This was an entertaining read with a better plot than I remember Clark's books having.   The premise of this series is one that really calls to me as the main character is the producer of a true crime that focuses on cold cases.  The characters on the production team are primarily nice people (with the exception of Brett who is a bit overly slick) and intelligent and I liked them all.

The people involved in the long ago murder are not quite so likable and they all have their secrets - but are any of them a killer?  I enjoyed following along and seeing the story unravel from multiple angles.  The writing style kept the intensity low so while it does deal with violence it felt like a light read with a good pace.  I will be reading more books from this writing duo and while I had no issue jumping in with the second book in this series I'm looking forward to going back and reading the first book.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I would.  This was a fun read and I think I would enjoy more from this writing duo.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you're looking for a fast read with an entertaining mystery this is a good one.

Friday Five - Short Reviews for Series I'm Currently Reading

I'm taking a bit of a break from my usual Friday Linkups to try something a little different.  I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  I'm working on catching up on series and decided to put a few reviews of them all together here.

1.  Ornaments of Death by Jane K. Cleland - I love this series about Antique store business owner Josie Prescott and this was a fun Christmas-y read - with a side of murder and intrigue of course.  Josie loves her life but has always missed having family so she's thrilled when a man from the UK contacts her showing that they are distant cousins and even more thrilled when he comes for a visit.  This leads into an investigation into valuable 17th century miniatures and just what is going on with her new found family.  I enjoyed this one and the ending was sweet and heartwarming.  I was glad to see Josie spending more time back at work and seeing more of Gretchen, Sasha and the rest of the Prescott team.  As usual I'm looking forward to the next book!  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

2.  Winter's End by Paige Shelton - This is the 4th book in the cozy-ish mystery series about Beth Rivers who after surviving a violent attack has moved to Alaska to hide and to recover.  This series tackles issues that are a bit more violent than we normally see in a cozy but not in a graphic way so I've never had an issue with it.  This book starts as winter is coming to an end in Benedict, Alaska and the community is starting to come out of hibernation.  A generations long feud between two family is also coming out of hibernation leading to a complex and interesting series of events including a murder.  I've enjoyed this series and I'm intrigued by a few long running story arcs which I was glad to see.  While I like Beth she did cross the line into too stupid to live behavior several times in this series for no real reason other than general nosiness.  This is a series best read in order and while Beth did drive me crazy a few times I did enjoy this one.  My Rating:  Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

3.  Button Holed by Kylie Logan - I'm a big fan of cozies and I love a unique career but a button collector is definitely a new one for me.  But who knew buttons could be so interesting - or help solve a murder.  Josie is an interesting main character - she's smart and a bit nerdy but also a little insecure.  I really love that she leans hard into her love for buttons and doesn't try to hide it.  The mystery involves the murder of a celebrity complete with assistants to assistants and paparazzi.  I figured out a few little things but was really surprised by the overall reveal.  I'm looking forward to reading more of this series and following more of Josie's adventures.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

4.  A Death Long Overdue by Eva Gates - It's been awhile since I've read this series and I'm so glad I've gotten back to it.  This was such a fun read.  I was so glad to catch up with Lucy, Bertie, Charles, Connor, and even Louise Jane who is up to her usual tricks trying to summon the spirits of those long past.  It was kind of fun to see what this graduating class of librarians had gotten up to since their graduation and how the may or may not have interacted with the victim.  I was hooked on the mystery and thoroughly enjoyed my time with Lucy and all the people in her world.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5. Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews - This book was absolutely bananas in the most fun of ways.  I've absolutely fallen in love with the later books in the series and while I did read this book in 2011 I remember very little about it and decided I needed to go back and start from the beginning of the series.  Meg is having a summer of challenges with three very different brides with three very different ideas of what they want and she is Maid of Honor and general fixer for each wedding.  Throw in a dead body and the chaos is at max levels.  Oh and there's peacocks who have a tendency to shriek and molt, a dog with serious anger issues, and a kitten.  I thoroughly enjoyed this light quick read.  There are a lot of characters which can sometimes get a bit confusing but as long as you remember Meg and Michael and the names of the different brides you're pretty much good.  The series has definitely come a long way since this first book and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - The Forever Girl

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis

Blurb:  When Maze returns to Wildstone for the wedding of her estranged bff and the sister of her heart, it’s also a reunion of a once ragtag team of teenagers who had only each other until a tragedy tore them apart and scattered them wide.
Now as adults together again in the lake house, there are secrets and resentments mixed up in all the amazing childhood memories. Unexpectedly, they instantly fall back into their roles: Maze their reckless leader, Cat the den mother, Heather the beloved baby sister, and Walker, a man of mystery.

Life has changed all four of them in immeasurable ways. Maze and Cat must decide if they can rebuild their friendship, and Maze discovers her long-held attraction to Walker hasn’t faded with the years but has only grown stronger.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I'm trying to get caught up on this author's books as I had kind of forgotten how much I enjoyed them.  Also, I'm cold and the cover looks gloriously spring-y (and there are dogs in the bike basket).