Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen-ARC Review

Meet Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs Claus's Treasures, in Rudolph (like the Red Nosed Raindeer) New York. Rudolph is Christmastown USA with a Christmas all year atmosphere. Who doesn't want that? When a English Reporter is murdered in the town, and the leading suspect is her bff Vicky, Merry is forced to solve a murder. I must admit from the get go I was excited about the book but when I started I must admit the first 20 pages did seem to drag...BUT keep reading. Christmas is my favorite holiday and the Christmas season is my favorite time of year because of the displays and the wonder of it all. This made me throw on some Christmas music early! My only criticism seems to lie with Noel, Merry's Father who plays Santa Claus, he seems to contradict himself on gift giving. He will not give people over the age of 18 gifts but he will accept gifts because his birthday is December 25th and then he says almost after that that Merry should put jewel every in her windows because husbands want to buy their wives gifts. All of these contradictions might have changed since I am reading an Uncorrected ARC. I did not guess the killer until the end and it came as a surprise. I am also digging this Russ/Alan love triangle but I am rooting for Alan!!!!!!

Note: I received this book as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review!

Key Lime Pie Murder to Apple Turnover Murder Reviews

Key Lime Pie Murder:

Key Lime Pie murder features recipes that make my mouth water. In this novel Hannah is investigating the murder of her friend Willa at the Tri County Faire! My favorite supporting character was Ruby who makes these fried candy bars that just sound amazing. Felt a little let down by this one not going to lie. I felt like this one had a rapid conclusion and was at times very boring. My usual reading time is commuting to work on the subway and I found myself listening to music instead of reading and putting my Nook back in my bag. But I love Hannah, Lisa, Andrea and Delores along with the rest of Lake Eden so I still was able to enjoy it.

Carrot Cake Murder:

Like a delicious piece of Carrot Cake this was a great mystery! Uncle Gus shows up out of the blue at the family reunion that Lisa and Herb have put together. Hannah and the cast of characters had me still laughing and enjoying the plot. But things that got to me about the book (that did not cause me to change my rating) were the fact that Herb seemed to have no real emotional response to his uncle getting killed nor really did his sisters. Yes he disappeared for 30 years but to have a family member murdered. I think I would be more upset. I still found the book enjoyable and cannot wait to jump right into the next one!

Cream Puff Murder:

Delores has written a Regency era romance novel and is prepping for a book launch in Lake Eden. Of course the dress that she buys Hannah is far too small and Hannah is forced to go on a diet. Based on the past 10 books I think that Hannah handled the diet like a pro really thinking about her mom. All of our favorites were back in this one and I felt like all had their purposes. Many times I felt myself laughing out loud. It didn't hurt that for the last few readings I had some molasses crackle cookies (from Strawberry Shortcake Murder but mentioned in this one). Another great one Joanne!!!!!!!!!

Plum Pudding Murder:

Only Hannah could stumble upon a Murder at the holiday season. At a tree farm no less! Hannah is hell bent on solving the murder of Larry Jaeger who owns the Crazy Elf, a Christmas emporium if you will. The book is filled with crazy twists and turns and bad business practices. Throughly enjoyed this one and I did not guess who had done it till 3/4 the way through. Love Hannah and everyone in Lake Eden!!!!!!!

Apple Turnover Murder:

Hannah is back and not far behind is the assistant professor who broke her heart in college Bradford Ramsey. In this book Lake Eden is gearing up for a three day charity event. Lisa has the genius idea to make apple turnovers but of course mayhem follows when Bradford is found dead back stage at the talent show by Hannah with one of her apple turnovers it is a caper of who did what where and to whom. I absolutely loved the allusions that formed in my mind with Stephanie Bascomb the wife to the mayor. I missed Carrie in this book but it was nice to see everyone again!

Discovery

I have discovered that I am not the best blogger and have a real appreciation for those that do blog every day or every couple days. But I will continue on because I have been having fun with it. Today I attempted to be a Culinary Diva, finally caving for an iced coffee and a little reading. Tonight a Tuna Noodle Casserole is being made by yours truly. With my boyfriend out for the weekend I am left to my own devices which is exciting and fun. Last night I started Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke. In the book there is a carnival/fair complete with fried candy bars. I have always wanted to try them but never have. I think for "nutrition" I would choose a snickers because they fill me up. What would you pick?

Review: Fudging the Books

I have been a fan of Daryl's work since I first opened her amazing Cheese Shop Mysteries and after reading all that had been available I jumped into the Cookbook Nook series. I have not been disappointed. I have loved her depictions of Crystal Cove and her heroine Jenna Hart (not as much as Charlotte in the Cheese Shop Mysteries though). Fudging the Books takes place during Pirate Week and two crimes happen almost at once, Alison Foodie, indie publisher of Foodie Books, is murdered by a pair of scissors and a pot of golden doubloons is stolen which sends Mayor ZZ into a tizzy. Something i like about Daryl and some of the other "cozy" authors (another I like is Krista Davis) is the mix between food, crime and humor. These writers are sometimes laugh at loud funny in the situations the characters get themselves into and you realize very quickly that not only do they really care and craft a good story but that their voices are resonating throughout the pages. Very highly recommended!!!!!

Cheese Shop...No More?

I received a very upsetting email last night from Daryl Wood Gerber (AKA Avery Aames). According to her new newsletter Berkley Prime Crime has discontinued The Cheese Shop Mystery featuring the ever love able Charlotte!!!!! The last book will be For Chedder Or Worse. This is a real shame because this has quickly become one of my favorite series of mysteries and will miss Charlotte and the ever irresistible Jordan! 

Have you read any of the Cheese Shop Mysteries or anything by Daryl Wood Gerber?

Cheese Shop...No More?

I received a very upsetting email last night from Daryl Wood Gerber (AKA Avery Aames). According to her new newsletter Berkley Prime Crime has discontinued The Cheese Shop Mystery featuring the ever love able Charlotte!!!!! The last book will be For Chedder Or Worse. This is a real shame because this has quickly become one of my favorite series of mysteries and will miss Charlotte and the ever irresistible Jordan! 

Have you read any of the Cheese Shop Mysteries or anything by Daryl Wood Gerber?

Drape Expectations

Today I finished my first ARC! I read Drape Expectations by Karen Rose Smith courtesy of Kensington Publishing Company. It was so cool to see the book before I would normally buy it in stores. 

Question: How can you go wrong with a novel called Drape Expectations?

When I first saw a professional staging mystery I was intrigued and could only imagine the possibilities for a murder. In Drape Expectations Caprice Da Luce our Camero driving sleuth is trying to solve the murder of Alanna, a friends Fiancée. Add in that friend being rock legend Ace Richland! I found this book at times a little tedious and also at time wished it was going by a little faster. But in the end enjoyed our amateur sleuth in action either staging the house or solving the murder.  In addition Karen Rose Smith is the first author who has made me truly fall in love with all the animals in her books! I feel like they are real and truly loved by Caprice, even when they are not her own. I definitely think that I will revisit this series again. 

[I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank them for their generousity. In exchange, I was simply asked to write an honest review, and post it. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising]

The Diva Steals The Chocolate Kiss

One of my favorite sweets is Chocolate. So I was delighted that Krista Davis's new books was The Diva Steals The Chocolate Kiss! I wrote a review of it below:

One of my favorite things about reading a Domestic Diva Mystery Series is you feel like you are meeting up with some old friends. In the Diva Steals A Chocolate Kiss all of Sophie's friends are back, my favorite is Nina Reid Norwood. In this installment there is murder, disappearance and feuding family. Could one ask for more? While it began a little slow I absolutely loved it! Cannot wait for the next installment in the series!

A Locked Room

One very popular device in the mystery novel is the locked room or stranded in a place setting. I first encountered this in Poirot's Christmas story where the wealthy older gentleman was killed in a locked room. I have found this with two of Agatha Christie's other works And Then There Were None and Murder on the Orient Express, then in Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke. I have two of my reviews for them below.

I have always been that weird person who would love to get "stuck" somewhere with his friends. The idea of a murder happening but being stuck in the same place is terrifying and I imagine a lot of frayed nerves but they are some of my favorite to read!

What are your thoughts about this kind of setting? Do locked rooms intrigue you?

And Then There Were None

This is one of my favorite mysteries ever (top 5). The mere idea of 10 people going to an island invited by someone they do not know is super intriguing. It has you at the edge of your seat the entire time. Miss Christie outdid herself with this book it is still just as fresh now as when first published. The other part that I like is that it served as the basis for one of my favorite mystery comedies Murder By Death, worth the watch if you like mysteries and comedies!

Murder on the Orient Express

Finally read the CLASSIC mystery Murder on the Orient Express. To be completely honest most of the characters annoyed me but thankfully I had Poirot to keep everything in order. The ending completely shocked me. The setting itself was beautiful and Christie's descriptions were spot on. Definitely one not to miss!

Sugar Cookie Murder

All I can start by saying is SO MANY RECIPES, SO EXCITED! There is nothing I love more than a Christmas Mystery because usually there is extended family around. With this the entire Lake Eden gang is stuck in the community center during a blizzard which happens to hit during the cookbook tasting. While I thought that I would be obsessed with this idea of everyone around and no where to go I missed The Cookie Jar and other businesses and Mochie. But it was still an enjoyable read and I loved the play on words for our victim (Brandy Wine). Joanne knows exactly how to keep her fans intrigued.

Mystery 1 2 3

In order to better understand the mystery genre you must know that there are several sub genres in it. Below I have provided them with definitions. 

Mystery fiction can be divided into numerous categories, including

Traditional Mystery-

Legal Thriller- is a subgenre of thriller and crime fiction in which the major characters are lawyers and their employees

Medical Thriller- is a genre of literature, film, videogame stories and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements typically 

COZY Mystery-also referred to simply as "cozies", are a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community

Police Procedural- is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes.

Hardboiled- is a literary genre that shares to some degree its characters and settings with crime fiction (especially detective stories). Although deriving from romantic tradition which emphasized the emotions of apprehension, horror and terror, and awe, the hardboiled fiction deviates from the tradition in the detective's cynical attitudetowards those emotions. The attitude is conveyed through the detective's self-talk describing to the reader (or, in film, to the viewer) what he is doing and feeling.

I also stumbled upon this article from the BookEnds Literary Agency blog which was extremely interesting!

http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2015/02/cozy-mysteries-v-traditional-mysteries.html?m=1

Joanne Fluke...The Beginning

When I first started reading cozy mysteries I began with the Berkley Prime Crime canon. I started with Krista Davis's Domestic Diva mysteries and absolutely loved them. Then I tried Diane Mott Davidson's Goldy mysteries and was not a fan...so I wondered to myself if I could only like Berkley Prime Crime novels. Then came Avery Aames and Daryl Wood Gerber who almost cemented that feeling. 

Then I saw one day that Joanne Fluke's Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was on sale in e book for $1.99 on my Nook. So I thought ok $1.99 is a good price to try something and then I heard about the TV movie. Suffice it to say that I fell in love. This was also the first time that I actually baked any kind of recipe from any of the books. I began with the chocolate chip crunch cookies that get their crunch from corn flakes, Joanne was going to make Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies but didn't have any Oatmeal, and I thought they were delicious. My two roommates agreed and then my entire office gobbled them up. Further proof that they were a hot came when my boyfriend who does not like chocolate loved them. Then I tried her molasses cookies in her second book Strawberry Shortcake Murder and got another very enthusiastic response from coworkers, roommates and boyfriend alike. 

Have you ever cook/bake from a cozy mystery and if so what did you make and what did you think about it?

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder: Welcome to Lake Eden! There are no crimes to speak of except that it is the murder capital of the WORLD!

This is my first in the series by Joanne Fluke that I have read. I found Hannah to be completely awesome and everyone in the book to have a likability if only for comic relief. There were numerous times where I laughed out loud. Plus all the recipes (which I have yet to try) all looked easy and delicious! I already made my shopping list! It was a gem to read and cannot wait to see what Hannah gets up to in the rest of the series!

Strawberry Shortcake Murder Review:  A Bake Off in Lake Eden! Sign Me Up! Of course Hannah must step over at least one dead body in the process! Blackmail, murder and intrigue are all great parts of this book. Let me just tell you that the recipes in this are fantastic. I took both the chocolate chip crunch and molasses cookies to my office and they were HUGE HITS.

My Welcome

Hello! My name is Nathan but will go by Nate. I am a 27 year old mystery lover from New York. By day I am a talent agent and by night I am an obsessive mystery reader. While I do read all kinds of mysteries and thrillers I am most obsessed with the cozy genre. What I hope to do with this blog is share some reviews and put out some ideas about the cozy genre. Cannot wait to get the conversation started!!! Over the next few days I will post some older reviews that I have done in the past then start new with the book I am currently reading Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke.  Happy READING!!!!!!!!