Howl Deadly by Linda O. Johnston
Howl Deadly by Linda O. Johnston is the 8th book in the “Kendra Ballantyne” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), December 2009
L.A. attorney and pet-sitter Kenda Ballantyne lives up to her “murder magnet” nickname when a sexy weekend in the San Bernandino Mountains turns deadly. And worst of all, she suspects that her beau knows more then he’s telling.
Kendra’s steamy weekend getaway with gorgeous millionaire Dante DeFrancisco turns chilling when a mother wolf goes missing from Dante’s wild animal sanctuary—and the only thing that is found is the wolf’s caretaker dead in a cage, with a bloody knife at his side.
No stranger to murder, Kendra starts hunting for suspects. Was it an angry local? A sanctuary volunteer? Or worst of all, Dante and his movie-star pal, who apparently share a mysterious past—and enigmatic ties to the victim? Now Kendra must find the escaped wolf—along with the killer hiding right before her eyes.
A missing mama wolf, two legal cases and her pet-sitting duties keeps Kendra busy especially when one of the caretakers at the wildlife sanctuary is found dead. Using her investigative skills, Kendra ferrets out the killer. This was an enjoyable mystery with light romance. My rating: 4 stars
Final Exam by Maggie Barbieri
Final Exam by Maggie Barbieri is the fourth book in the “Murder 101″ mystery series. Publisher: Minotaur Books, December 2009
St. Thomas, the small college north of New York City where Professor Alison Bergeron teaches, has had its share of scandals involving both its students and its staff, not to mention Alison herself, so when a resident director goes missing the administration wants to keep a lid on it. With only five weeks left in the semester and no time to interview replacements, Alison is tapped for the job. An alumna of the college, Alison knows all about living in the dorms. Even a short stay is like doing hard time, and she will do anything to avoid reliving her college days any more than she has to.
Her only way out: Track down the reluctant RD and drag him back kicking and screaming if need be. Luckily, she doesn’t have to look further than the drugs he had hidden in his bathroom to get her boyfriend, Detective Bobby Crawford, on the case.
With plenty of sneaking around both on campus and off, Alison and Bobby link up once again in Final Exam, the wildest adventure yet from this outstanding mystery talent.
A missing resident director. Alison has to stay in the dorm. Max has left her newlywed husband. Kevin has displeased the higher power. Crawford looks out for Alison. What do they all have in common? Joining Alison in her next adventures in finding the missing RD so that she can go back to her home and coming across some nasty business that entangles some of her college students. I love this series and it keeps getting better and better. This is the best book in the series thus far and I can’t wait to see what new adventures Alison gets into next time. My rating: 4.5 stars
Dial Om for Murder by Diana Killian
Dial Om for Murder by Diana Killian is the second in the “Mantra for Murder” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, November 2009
As the owner of Sacred Balance yoga studio, (Anna Jolie) A. J. Alexander has learned to embrace her newfound happiness—until some local diva drama shocks her chakra.
A.J. Only has two A-list students in her yoga studio, but these divas are enough to drain her sanity. Leading actress Nicole Manning and reality-show star Barbie Siragusa are not only divas, but vicious rivals. A.J. tries her best to keep the peace, but when she finds Nicole in a permanent corpse pose, all fingers point to Barbie.
Nudged into investigating by her mother—and despite the objections of her new detective boyfriend—A.J. is determined to find the true culprit. It’s going to take some really deep digging—and deep breathing—to was through all this celebrity dirt. But A.J.’s not about to let camera crews, the paparazzi or a cold-blooded murderer disrupt her hard-earned inner peace.
When one of A.J.’s students is murdered, the list of suspects grow with the help of her mother and ex-husband. Meanwhile, A.J. is experience a sense of change in her relationship with her mother, ex-husband, her co-manager and with Jake. Will A.J.’s snooping assist in bringing the murderer to justice and will it make her relationship stronger? I enjoyed this fact-paced mystery and look forward to reading the next book in this series. My rating: 4 stars
Murder Had A Little Lamb by Cynthia Baxter
Murder Had A Little Lamb by Cynthia Baxter is the 8th book in the “Reigning Cats and Dogs” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Bantam, October 2009
WHO BETTER THAN A PET DETECTIVE TO EXPOSE A WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING?
Things get wild and woolly when Jessica Popper’s wedding to longtime fiancé Nick Burby is interrupted by the sound of bloody murder. The sacrificial lamb is the black sheep of the Burby flock, a long-lost relative Nick has never even met. In fact, no one thought Cousin Nathaniel would return to the fold for the event—except his killer. Now, instead of enjoying her honeymoon, Jessie finds herself playing Bo Peep to a growing list of suspects, none with a past as white as snow. All the clues lead to an exclusive private school in Long Island’s high-toned Bromptons, where snobby socialites and a smattering of locals on scholarship take classes in African drumming and field trips to Europe. But shearing away the thick fleece of politics, tension, and rivalries reveals a very different animal under the school’s progressive appearance. And just when Jess thinks she’s about to herd in the killer, she realizes she’s being led like a lamb to slaughter.
Commitment phobia Jessica is about to say those three little words when a scream is heard and both she and her soon-to-be husband go running to check it out. It appears that Cousin Nathaniel has been murdered on their wedding day and when her mother-in-law asks her to solve this murder, there’s only one thing Jess could do…solve this murder. Along the way, she still has those commitment phobia until she face with a life or death situation and realizes that Nick is her life. My rating: 4 stars
The Fashion Hound Murders by Elaine Viets
The Fashion Hound Murders by Elaine Viets is the 5th book in the “Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian (Penguin), November 2009
Mystery shopper and mom Josie Marcus knows how to keep a low profile—in style. On her latest assignment she finds that some people in the adorable world of canine couture are really bad to the bone.
Josie has no idea that the business of fashion-forward puppies could get so ugly—until she’s hired to check out a big pet store’s involvement with puppy mills. After she gets a tip from a disgruntled pet shop employee named Edna, Josie discovers that behind the cashmere sweaters and bejeweled collars, cruel means of breeding designer dogs are being used.
While working the case, she’s led to a puppy mill and sees the horrible conditions firsthand. Something has to be done, and she has the footage from her hidden camera to prove it. But when Edna is found dead, Josie realizes that sinking her teeth into this cause just might land her in the doghouse.
Josie’s next mystery shopper assignment has to do with pets and soon she gets in way over her head. This was an enjoyable mystery. My rating: 4 stars
Purses and Poisons by Dorothy Howell
Purses and Poisons by Dorothy Howell is the second book in the “Haley Randolph” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Kensington, July 2009
Twentysomething fashion sleuth Haley Randolph—the proud owner of a Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Coach, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and hopefully soon a Judith Leiber, is back for a murderous romp with the stylish set. Known to spot a designer knock-off at far-away range and nab a killer at purse point, Haley’s at the top of her game—until she falls suspect to another murder at Holt’s Department Store.
When Haley arrives at the Holt’s employee luncheon and fashion show, she spies a sick server hiding in a back room. Deciding to help out, Haley grabs a uniform. Besides she might score some points with her sort-of boyfriend and store owner Ty Cameron. The catered array of food and personalized fruit bouquets from Edible Elegance—her mom’s latest business venture—is a hit until top fashion model and Ty’s ex-girlfriend Claudia Gray is found dead in the ladies room.
It’s going to take more than a Chanel sample sale to ease Haley’s panic once she learns Claudia’s been poisoned. With the detectives looking for the “missing server,” Haley’s whereabouts unaccounted for during the luncheon and Edible Elegance gone sour, she’d better uncover the tainted truth-and quick. For someone thinks homicide is the height of fashion—with Haley’s name on the label.
This was an okay read. I liked the first book better. My rating: 3 stars
Dipped, Stripped, and Dead by Elise Hyatt
Dipped, Stripped, and Dead by Elise Hyatt is the first book in the new “Daring Finds” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), October 2009
Refinishing furniture can be the end of you.
Dyce (short for Candyce) dare never thought she’d end up twenty-nine and divorced, with a toddler to raise, an ex who “forgets” his child support and a diet consisting mostly of pancakes.
To make ends meet, Dyce takes a chance and starts up Daring Finds, a furniture refinishing business. But finding things to refinish is tough—especially when Dyce goes Dumpster diving for discarded furniture and uncovers a gelatinous-looking corpse. Turns out the body was immersed in a vat of lye—a technique used for refinishing furniture—making Dyce a prime suspect.
Now, in order to clear her good name—and thanks for her parents, slightly absurd—name, Dyce has to play private eye. But solving a murder isn’t child’s play, especially when the next victim might be her.
Dyce finds a tea table and a body and immediately is threatened. Her best friend and the good looking cop are trying to keep her safe, while Dyce plays amateur detective seeking clues to who is the murderer. This was a good read, a little verbose though. I hope the next book has more dialogue as opposed to more internal thinking of Dyce. My rating: 3 stars
*new-to-me author
Elise Hyatt is a pseudonym for Sarah A Hoyt
I Scream, You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson
I Scream, You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson is the first book in the new “A La Mode” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian (Penguin), October 2009
Tallulah Jones, proprietor of Dalliance, Texas’s old-fashioned ice-cream parlor, dishes up luscious ice cream that is simply to die for….
Unfortunately, Remember the A-la-mode’s profits are melting faster than a snow cone in July–and Tally’s stuck scooping sundaes for her two-timing ex-husband and his bodacious new girlfriend, Brittanie, at his company luau. To make matters worse, twenty years after she dumped him in the Tasty-Swirl parking lot, Tally’s high school beau, Finn Harper, comes back to town–looking every bit as delicious as a double-dip raspberry mascarpone waffle cone.
The cherry on top? Brittanie drops dead, and Tally’s suddenly the prime suspect in her murder investigation. To catch a killer, Tally will have to churn up Dalliance’s darkest secrets and dip deep into the past. But can Tally freeze out the real culprit before a murder charge puts her dreams on ice for good?
This is a great beginning to a new series. Tally becomes a suspect in the death of her ex-husband’s girlfriend and while clearing her name, Tally discovers long-ago secrets that may point to the killer. This book had what I like in a cozy mystery: a fast read, a good mystery, quirky characters, some romance, some fun and it was enjoyable. I also loved the dialogue between Tally, Bree, Alice and their friends. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. My rating: 4 stars
*new-to-me author
Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnet
Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett is the second book in the “Liss MacCrimmon” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Kensington, July 2008
After a knee injury forces professional Scottish dancer, Liss MacCrimmon to give up her life of performing strathspreys, reels, jigs and Highland flings, she returns to her hometown of Moosetookalook, Maine, where she runs a Scottish Emporium. With one solved murder case under her dance belt, Liss has no idea she’s about to spiral into another…
Liss still misses the life of a professional dancer with Strathspey, the Scottish dance company she belonged to. So she arranges a reception for the troupe when they’re on tour, complete with a Scottish theme that includes a new spin on the classic Scottish Scone.
Liss soon realizes that life in the group isn’t all happy jigs and fancy stepping. Victor Owens, the company manager, has been making life miserable for everyone. But she has no idea how miserable until Victor bites into one of Liss’ prized cocktail scones, collapses and dies. When the police set their sights on Liss and her best friends, it’s up to Liss to find out whodunit before this culinary killer makes an encore…
Liss’ former troupe is in town and when the manager dies suddenly, Liss is asked for her assistance in solving this case. My rating: 2.5 stars
Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett
Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett is the third book in the “Booktown” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin), November 2009
Tricia Miles, owner of Haven’t a Clue mystery bookstore, is still settling into Stoneham, New Hampshire, the kind of town where everybody knows your name—and where everyone’s quick to lend a hand, even when murder is afoot . . .
The kinder folks of Stoneham might call Pammy Fredericks a free spirit. The less kind, a freeloading thief. Tricia has put up—and put up with—her uninvited college roommate for weeks. In return, Pammy, has stolen one hundred dollars, among other things. But the day she’s kicked out, Pammy’s found dead in a trash cart, leaving loads of questions unanswered. What was she foraging for? Did her killer want it too? To piece the case together, Tricia will have to dive in headfirst.…
This is another great book in this series. Tricia kicks Pammy out of her house and is later found upside down in a dumpster. Captain Baker is on the case and he proves to be a better detective more accepting of the clues that Tricia discovers. It was good seeing more into the lives of Tricia, Angelica, Bob and Ginny. I had a hard time putting this book down and the mystery of who killed Pammy had me guessing as to who did it right until the end of the story and I never saw that twist coming. Good job. My rating: 4 stars
