Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy

Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy is the fourth book in the “White House Chef” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), January 2011

With a new First Family moving into the White House, executive chef Olivia Paras can’t afford to make any mistakes. But when a mysterious box of take-out chicken shows up for the First Kids, she soon finds herself in a no-wing situation.

No way is Ollie handing over a suspicious box of barbecue chicken wings to Abigail and Josh Hyden, children of the country’s new commander in chief and her new boss. With no clue who provided the culinary gift for the kids, Ollie’s not about to put them at risk.

With the First Lady giving her the cold shoulder for her decision, and the family’s personal chef being brought in, Ollie starts to fear she may be plucked from the White House staff. When it turns out the chicken was poisoned, Ollie realizes the First Kids are targets—and she’ll need more than a wing and a prayer to keep them out of harm’s way.

Ollie just can’t help herself and ruffles some feathers when she refuses to serve undocumented chicken wings to the First Kids, which later is proven to be tainted. Already on slippery terms with the First Lady, the family’s personal chef arrives to join the staff with his own agenda. Ollie’s primary concern is the safety of her kitchen and the food she prepares and when that is threatened, Ollie wants answers and in this caper, it’s Ollie’s heroic measure that keeps the pot from boiling over. What a tailspin of emotions contained within the walls of this book. I was rooting for Ollie as she adjusted to the demands of the new inhabitants of the White House, the uncertainty of her job and the promise of new beginnings. The writing was superb as was the mystery which kept me turning the pages. The character’s relationships were more defined and explored. I enjoyed how easy the conversation was between all the characters with a bit of humor to whet your appetite. But mostly I love the White House and D.C. setting which made me wish that I was there with Ollie. This fabulous read will leave your hunger delectably satisfied. My rating: 5 stars

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog

Mortar and Murder by Jennie Bentley

Mortar and Murder by Jennie Bentley is the fourth book in the “Do-It-Yourself” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, January 2011

Avery and her boyfriend, Derek are renovating a magnificent 225-year-old Colonial on Rowanberry Island, just off the coast of Maine. The DIY is going great even if the neighbor, a reclusive thriller writer, seems as strange and mysterious as his fiction. But his reputation seems in perfect keeping with what Derek and Avery discover next.

The body of an unidentified woman with a piece of paper in her pocket bearing the address of Derek and Avery’s Realtor is found floating in the sea near the island. Then a second woman is retrieved like jetsam from the harbor. But it’s not until Avery discovers a secret room in the house and learns about Rowanberry Island’s long tradition of smuggling, that a bizarre link is made between the dead women—and if it foretells anything, it’s that things on the island are only going to get deadlier.

What a great story. When bodies turn up dead in the water, Avery can’t just leave it to the police. The inquisitive nature of Avery has her searching for reasons as to why. When a secret is discovered, Avery nudges her way into the investigation, but she better hurry because secrets exposed can be dangerous. I found myself devouring this book as I wanted to see what happens next. A brilliant plot, amusing dialogue and an island locale creates an intriguing mystery where fixing up can be risky business. My rating: 5 stars

Jennie Bentley is the pseudonym of Bente Gallagher.

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book

Three Devils Dancing by Keith Donnelly

Three Devils Dancing by Keith Donnelly is the third book in the “Donald Youngblood” mystery series. Publisher: Hummingbird Books, December 2010

After the Malone case nearly got him killed, ex-Wall Street whiz kid and private investigator Donald Youngblood wants just to settle down with his new ready-made family and watch the world go by.

Not likely.

A young woman with a mysterious tattoo turns up dead at a local lake, and the girl’s father persuades Don to look into her killing. Soon afterward, a three-year-old girl gets kidnapped. The girl’s mother, wanting to avoid police involvement, convinces Don to look for her daughter, leaving him with much more than he bargained for.

Who took the little girl, and why?
Is the tattoo on the dead girl a significant clue or just skin art?

Playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with an insane serial killer while trying to fulfill a promise to a ruthless drug dealer, Donald Youngblood, with help from partner Billy Two-Feathers and new ally Oscar Morales, pursues his most cunning adversary yet.

What a great story. When a young girl is found dead and similar cases are connected, Don knows this is the work of a serial killer. Don has his hands full with two other cases that need his attention, but the murder of this young teenager and finding her killer is his main priority. From the moment I started reading, I could not put this book down. With a well-written story and more defined characters, this fast-action read kept me turning the pages. I love this series because I always finish with a smile. This was an enjoyable read that will leave you wanting more. My rating: 5 stars

A Killer Crop by Sheila Connolly

A Killer Crop by Sheila Connolly is the fourth book in the “Orchard” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), December 2010

A suspicious death is ripe for rumor.

When Meg Corey’s mother arrives unannounced in Granford, Massachusetts, Meg’s sure it’s not just to pay a surprise visit to the apple of her eye. The timing is terrible—it’s harvest season and Meg is understaffed in the orchard. Plus Elizabeth Corey is clearly hiding the real purpose of her trip from her daughter.

After an English professor from Amherst—who is an old friend of her mother—is found dead on the floor of a cider home, Elizabeth is interrogated by the police, and then grilled by her daughter. She is indeed keeping a secret—but could Meg’s own mother really have committed murder? One thing is clear; someone decided to teach the professor a lesson. And the key to unlocking the mystery may lie with a poet who could not stop for death.

I adore this book. When Meg’s mother is questioned by the police for an old friend’s death, Meg fears her mother is the only suspect and both Meg and her mother set out to clear her mother. Between harvesting the apples, entertaining her mother, and her relationship with Seth, Meg has a lot on her hands. The well-written plot held my interest as history was intertwined with the present as Meg and her mother picked through the clues. The characters were more defined and I enjoyed the interaction between Meg and her mother. The dialogue between the main characters was very comfortable, and I felt I was a part of the conversation. I don’t know much about Emily Dickinson, but this story peak my interest in learning more about her life. This is, by far, the best book in this likable series. My rating: 5 stars

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog

If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell

If Walls Could Talk by Juliet Blackwell is the first book in the new “Haunted Home Renovation” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), December 2010

She Puts Up Walls. He Walks Through Them.

Since she took over her father’s construction business, Melanie Turner has made quite a name for herself remodeling historic houses in the San Francisco Bay Area. But now her reputation may be on the line.

At her newest renovation project, a run-down Pacific Heights mansion, Mel is visited by the ghost of a colleague who recently met a bad end with power tools. Mel hopes that by tracking down the killer, she can rid herself of the ghostly presence of the murdered man.

Mel’s only clue is an odd box she discovers inside a wall at the job site. If she can make sense of its mysterious contents, she might be able to nail a killer—before she herself becomes the next construction casualty.

What a great new series. The ghostly presence of a recently deceased colleague and vandalism to her workplace and home spurs Mel into action. When she looks into the murder and the history of the home she is renovating, she wonders if the two are connected. The surprising revelation not only enhances the mystery but peaked my interest more as I quickly turn the pages. This well-written mystery with likable characters, fascinating insight into home renovations and great conversation is a very entertaining read. My rating: 5 stars

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book

previously posted on the Cozy Chicks blog

Dead Lift by Rachel Brady

Dead Lift by Rachel Brady is the second book in the “Emily Locke” mystery series. Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press, December 2010

Single mom Emily Locke is building a new life with her daughter. Hoping to spend more time at home, she’s put her career on hold to work part-time for her private investigator friend, Richard Cole. It’s a nice balance between work and family until Emily finds out she’s been working for the attorney that defended her husband’s killer.

The discovery nearly destroys her friendship with Richard, but Emily resists abandoning his client, the socialite Claire Gaston, who awaits trial for the murder of a local plastic surgeon. The threat of losing her children to a self-serving ex-husband terrifies Claire more than the specter of a life behind bars.

Claire has been leading a wildly unconventional life and passing around access to her home and assets like popcorn. Should she be condemned for bad choices? Emily, haunted by her own, doesn’t think so.

Meanwhile, Emily’s wild-child friend Jeannie, in town for a visit, sees a chance for Emily to loosen up when a mysterious note leads her into a daring undercover ruse at a high-brow ladies health club. Emily fakes conformity with Houston’s elite debutantes and trophy wives in a surreal fitness subculture where things, and people, are seldom what they seem. At this gym, “killer workout” has a whole new meaning.

After being reunited with her daughter, Emily works part-time for her PI friend. When she learns she is working for the lawyer she despises, because she believes in the innocence of his client, she puts her feelings on hold to work the case. With help from her BFF Jeannie, nothing will stop this duo until justice prevails. The clever plot, an outstanding cast of characters and an action-filled ride kept me intrigued and rooting for all that Emily does to reclaim her life, both personally and professionally. This book immediately captured my attention and it never wavered as I quickly consumed the pages to great satisfaction. Dead Lift is the best one yet in the Emily Locke series. My rating: 5 stars

Sinister Sprinkles by Jessica Beck

Sinister Sprinkles by Jessica Beck is the third book in the “Donut Shop” mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, November 2010

Just in time for the Winter Festival, a glistening layer of snow has covered the streets of April Springs, North Carolina. Of course, it reminds donut shop owner Suzanne Hart of sweet delicious frosting. But her visions of sugar plums plummet when her ex’s ex-girlfriend gets iced.

Suzanne could never understand why her ex-husband and actor Max cheated on her with Darlene Higgins. Why Darlene’s body was found wearing another woman’s clothes is an even bigger mystery. Now Max is suspected of murder—and Suzanne is sifting through her mixed-up love life looking for clues. If she can’t sprinkle evidence on her half-baked theories of whodunit, Max is as good as fried.

Suzanne is manning her booth at the Winter Carnival, when a dead body is discovered. When her ex-husband becomes the prime suspects, he goes on the lam and Suzanne with help from her friends starts to investigate. This was a good read that kept me turning the pages. I thought I knew who the killer was, but the author had another idea and I didn’t see that one coming. Good plot, nice setting and delicious recipes make this an appetizing read. My rating: 4 stars

FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book.

Dying Embers

Dying Embers by Leann Sweeney is a short story. Published in September 2010

One unhappy Christmas … then one little miracle.

A dysfunctional family and a holiday setting makes you believe that Christmas miracle does exist. This heart-wrenching story gives us all faith. My rating: 5 stars

Available as an e-book

Berried to the Hilt by Karen MacInerney

Berried to the Hilt by Karen MacInerney is the fourth book in the “Gray Whale Inn” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Midnight Ink, November 2010

When a lobsterman discovers a sunken ship, Cranberry Island is abuzz with excitement. Is the wreck the remains of the Myra Barton, the missing ship of island sea captain Jonah Selfridge? Or the elusive Black Marguerite, which belonged to one of the most notorious pirates of the 17th century and vanished without a trace—except for the ghost ship that old-timers say roams the water on fog-shrouded nights?

Soon the island is swarming with marine archaeologists and treasure hunters. It’s good news for Natalie—and for the Gray Whale Inn—until a body turns up floating near the wreck. Natalie finds herself immersed in the world of pirates and sunken treasure, both past and present. Will she solve the mystery and find the killer in time? Or will Natalie be the next to join the lost ship’s crew, down in Davy Jones’ locker?

It’s been two years since we last saw Natalie and she’s been sorely missed. When a shipwreck is discovered offshore, archeologists descend on Cranberry Island and will need a place to stay. All is well until one of the guests is found dead and one of the locals is arrested for his murder. Believing in his innocence, Natalie does what she does best and that is snoop. With a clever plot, illustrious characters and a nice island locale, this lighthearted mystery and enjoyable read kept me both intrigued and wanting more. My rating: 4 stars

My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space by Lisa Scottoline

My Nest Isn’t Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space by Lisa Scottoline. Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, October 2010

Critics and readers loved Lisa Scottoline’s first collection of true-life stories, which only encouraged her—now she’s back with these all-new, exciting adventures. She’s farther down the road now, and the scenery has changed—ex-husbands Thing One and Thing Two are in her rear-view mirror, daughter Francesca has moved into an apartment, and Lisa’s finding the silver lining in her empty nest, which has lots more room for her shoes. And some things have stayed the same—Mother Mary is still the feistiest octogenarian on the planet, who won’t part with her recipe for tomato sauce or her thirty-year old bra.

In this book Lisa and Francesca spill all their family secrets—which sound a lot like yours, if you understand that three generations of women is the formula for spontaneous combustion.

Inspired by her weekly column entitled, “Chick Wit” for The Philadelphia Inquirer, this is a book you’ll have to put down—just to stop laughing.

This was another hilarious romp through the antics with Lisa and her family. My rating: 4 stars