A Chain of Pearls

 A Chain of Pearls

Martha's Vineyards Murders #1

Raemi A. Ray

Reviewed by Helen

This is such an awesome debut, a fabulous murder mystery in a fabulous setting and the characters are so good, yes this one had me guessing till the end, come on a visit to the island of Martha’s Vineyard for the start of what I think is going to be a fabulous series.

Kyra Gibson is a lawyer who lives in England, she has been estranged from her father for many years now and she is finally going to visit Martha’s Vineyard the island her globetrotting prize winning journalist father had called home until he fell of a senator’s yacht during a storm, his death was ruled as an accident. Kyra just wants to settle his affairs, sell his home and put it all behind her.

But once she starts digging into his affairs and uncovers some paperwork she is thinking that all is not right with his death, when she discovers secret meetings with someone and it looks like bribery regarding a senator and an energy company and then there is another death on the farm said senator and his family own.

Detective Tarek Collins arrives on the island to investigate and together Kyra and Tarek uncover so much more so many secrets lots of corruption and Kyra and the neighbours she has befriended soon find themselves in danger.

Kyra and Tarek have built up a good friendship while investigating and they make a good team but will they get to the truth? This is a story that I loved from start to finish so many fabulous characters and I highly recommend it to any reader who loves a good mystery with an awesome setting, this one is sure to keep you turning the pages and guessing. I am really looking forward to book two.

My thanks to the Tule Publishing for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

April 9, 2024 by Tule Publishing

The Body in the Ice House

 The Body in the Ice House

A Georgina Drake Mystery #2

Kate Hardy

Reviewed by Helen

Another fabulous story in this awesome series, I love Georgina and Doris and her musketeers, Sybbie Cesca and Jodie add to that Bertie and of course there is DI Colin Bradshaw, if you love a good mystery then this is one to pick up, it is such a page turner.

Georgie is asked by Sybbie to help out with taking some photos for her goddaughters at the historic estate of Hartington Hall, she brings Bertie along for the day as well, when Georgie arrives at the historic ice house to take some photos there is a body at the bottom, who turns out to be the second wife of Lord Henry Berry, Karen Berry, is it an accident or is it murder, it appears that Karen is not a well-liked person who in the four years she has been married to Henry has done her best to alienate not only his daughters, Hattie and Posy but staff who have worked at the estate for many years. She has not been very loving to her own daughter Ellen either who spends a lot of time with the bats that are protected and live in the ice house.

The police have been called and DI Colin Bradshaw arrives to start the investigation, this is the second body that Georgie has uncovered and her and Colin are very good friends, not only that but when Georgie’s dog Bertie does some digging he uncovers human bones, two bodies in one day and again Georgie is caught up in the mystery again.

Georgie is very good at investigating murders herself it seems and with a bit of help from Doris she uncovers a lot about the mystery of the bones found and with more searching uncovers a lot of facts about Karen Berry and her past, all of which she passes onto Colin, but will they uncover the truth before Georgie is in danger again?

I loved this one from start to finish a one sitting read again, it is so well written and a must read for any cosy mystery lover, I was guessing till the very end and I can’t wait for book three to arrive, Thank you Kate Hardy for another brilliant story.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

February 20, 2024 by Storm Publishing

A High Tide Murder

 A High Tide Murder

Cannabis Cafe Mysteries #2

Emily George

Reviewed by Helen

Book two in this series and I fell in to it from page one, we are back in Azalea Bay with Chloe and her wonderful family and friends, her cannabis café Baked by Chloe has opened and it is a huge success, Chloe is working hard to keep up with demand and the annual surfing competition is starting, it is an exciting time until, one of the competitors is found dead.

Aaron Gill is a very good friend of Ethan another competitor, who is the brother of one of Chloe’s friends Matt, Aaron has been struggling with personal matters but is a strong contender for the competition but when Ethan, Matt and Chloe find him in his hotel room with a note and a bottle of tablets everyone is devastated but Ethan knows he did not take his own life and soon Chloe is doing what she does best and that is investigating but will she put herself in danger again?

The clues are adding up but the police are convinced that it was suicide and Chloe and Ethan know different and when a young woman is attacked things heat up and Chloe puts herself in danger will they tie up the clues and find the killer before the surf competition is over and everyone leaves town?

This is such a fabulous story fast paced and filled with awesome characters who join in with Chloe to unearth the killer, of course the food in the café is so yummy and we learn a lot about legal cannabis use and how it helps so many people. I do highly recommend this one to any cosy mystery lover and I am eagerly awaiting more trips to Azalea Bay with Chloe, Grandma Rose, Aunt Dawn, Jake and Antonio.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

4 stars

February 20, 2024 by Kensington Cozies

The Body in the Ice House by Kate Hardy

 Reviewed by Nas Dean

"The Body in the Ice House" by Kate Hardy is a riveting mystery that seamlessly blends historical intrigue with a compelling narrative. This novel introduces readers to a chilling discovery in the ice house that sets the stage for a captivating investigation.

Kate Hardy's writing effortlessly transports readers, immersing them in the details of the setting and bringing the characters to life. The mystery unfolds with meticulous pacing, keeping the suspense taut as the characters unravel secrets hidden within the ice house.

The characters are well-developed and contribute to the overall atmospheric charm of the story. Once again, Georgina Drake’s journey into the heart of the mystery is both enthralling and filled with unexpected twists. Kate Hardy skilfully weaves together elements of suspense, historical detail, and a touch of the unknown, creating a tale that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

The ice house itself becomes a character in the story, adding a unique and eerie dimension to the mystery. The author's attention to detail creates a vivid picture of the surroundings, enhancing the overall reading experience.

"The Body in the Ice House" is a must-read for mystery enthusiasts who appreciate a well-crafted plot. Kate Hardy's ability to blend elements of the past with a compelling mystery makes this novel a standout in the genre. It's a chilling and immersive journey that will leave readers eagerly anticipating more from this talented author.

Highly recommended for all readers of mysteries. 

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Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect

 Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect

Benjamin Stevenson

Reviewed by Helen

Ernest Cunningham is back, his first book a true telling about what happened in the mountains with his family reunion, he has been contracted to write a second book, this one fiction and he is struggling. When he is invited to the Australian Mystery Writers’ Society fiftieth anniversary crime writing festival aboard The Ghan, a train trip from Darwin to Adelaide, meeting some of the best Australian mystery writers is sure to give him ideas for the new book, he takes his girlfriend Juliette as his guest.

Along with the writers there are agents, publishers, editors, reviewers and fans, Ernest’s own agent Simone is there and she is putting pressure on him about his new book, there are panels for discussion but Ernest can feel the pressure from the start after all Ernest is a debut author and his was a non-fiction story, writing a fiction story is very different, his confidence is lagging, will this trip be what helps him?

Seven authors’ start the journey only five will leave alive and one in handcuffs. When one of the authors drops dead, the other authors decide that they will be able to use their knowledge to solve the mystery but of course it also means that they have to knowledge to cause the death as well, Ernest feels like he is back on the mountain with another death and just maybe he will have another book all be it another non-fiction book and when there is another death he knows he can write another book, but the pressure is on to solve the murders.

This is another fabulous story written in the same way his first book, Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone, it is witty, clever and funny as Ernest talks the readers through the clues and the ways and how’s along the way, there are some very good characters and such fabulous dialogue, you can feel the pressure Ernest is under, I didn’t work out who done it. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it was a fabulous train trip and I highly recommend it to any mystery reader.

5 stars

October 17, 2023 by Michael Joseph

Fatal Crossing

 Fatal Crossing

Poppy McGowan Mystery Novella #2.5

Pamela Hart

Reviewed by Helen

Poppy is back and she has been shifted from her kids program at the ABC to the current affairs show as a researcher to take over from Jane Mancus who was killed in a car accident while working but was it an accident? This should keep Poppy busy while she worries about her boyfriend Tol going away soon, but it seems that when Poppy investigates she always ends up in danger, will she this time?

Detective Chloe Prudhomme is on the case and has asked for Poppy’s help seeing as how no one from the ABC will hand over any information and Jane’s wealthy family are also being very close lipped, Poppy dives straight in and has lots of thoughts on what happened and what is behind it all, is it one of her co-workers at the ABC or is there something underhanded going on in her family and they needed to keep Jane quiet? Of course when Poppy gets attacked the pressure is on to get answers and Poppy pushes more.

This is another brilliant story in this series, I adore Poppy and Tol and her family and the sheer determination that Poppy shows when investigating, people talk to her so easily, Detective Prudhomme hasn’t changed still pushy. There is a cast of awesome characters in this story and I do highly recommend this one and the series and bring on the next book Murder on the Mosaic, can’t wait to travel to Jordon.

My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.

5 stars

November 30, 2023 by Improbable Fictions

A Clue in the Crumbs

 A Clue in the Crumbs

A Key West Food Critic Mystery #13

Lucy Burdette

Reviewed by Helen

I do enjoy a good cosy mystery, add in some yummy food and a great setting, Key West and a house boat and some wonderful fun characters and this one was a thoroughly enjoyable read that had me guessing. This was my first time meeting food critic Hayley Snow and her off-sider Miss Gloria and it was good to meet them.

Hayley and Miss Gloria are thrilled to be welcoming the Scottish Scone Sisters Violet and Bettina to their home town to do a new TV bake off show, Key West Edition, but things go upside down when the B & B they are supposed to be staying in goes up in flames, easily fixed they can stay on the houseboat with Miss Gloria but when the owner of the B & B is found murdered and it turns out that his wife Rayna is one of the contestants in the show, Hayley and Miss Gloria go into full investigative mode with the help of Violet and Bettina.

Will they find the fire bug and the killer before anyone is hurt, are they the same person? Will the bake off show still go ahead? I am glad I picked this one up and I look forward to getting around to reading more in this series, I do recommend this one to anyone who loves a good cosy mystery.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

4 stars

August 8, 2023 by Crooked Lane Books