Tag: cozy

Usually I save my 5 star ratings for cozies that are a joy to read and offer something a bit different – unique (or not often used) plot devices, a deeper level of writing, really creative twists or settings. Cloche and Dagger didn’t really offer any of these pluses, but it was such an outstandingly fun read with such likeable characters, I couldn’t possibly have given it anything less.

 

For me, Ms. McKinlay wasn’t going to go wrong with a setting in Notting Hill, London. Consider that box ticked. The characters were each written so well, that they immediately presented themselves in my minds eye so I almost never struggled keeping characters/suspects straight in my mind (about 10 seconds asking ‘which one’s Andre and which one’s Nick’ was about it).

 

I am already crushing on Harrison – if Scarlett doesn’t want him, I’ll take him. We don’t get much time with Viv, but it’s clear she’ll be quirky and fun and I really like Fee. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for NOT introducing some awful, hateful caricature of some nasty cow put there to make everyone’s lives miserable.

 

The plot was nicely done – the first mystery presents itself on page 3(?) with Viv’s disappearance. The actual murder doesn’t come along until about 1/3 of the way through the book, which allows the author to introduce the setting, the people, etc. with the backdrop of Viv’s absence keeping things interesting. Once the murder does occur, it’s a good one. I had a suspicion throughout, but was never sure, until the end.

 

Ms. McKinlay has yet to write a series I don’t love (we won’t bring Josie Bell into this) and I think my rankings are going to need a reshuffling – Hat Shop, Library, Cupcakes. I was genuinely disappointed to have come to the end of this book and I can’t wait to read more (especially with the hint of paranormal at the very end – ooooh!).

An ok first book that has quite a few things going for it, and a few things that, well, need work.

 

Excellent setting: small town, up-state New York on the lake. Trixie buys not only a diner, but a house, 12 cottages, and a bait shop from her aunt. Talk about lots of options for murder and mayhem going forward. The author has created a setting that won’t get stale as she’ll be able to rotate her plots around different areas of Trixie’s business, as well as around the town itself.

 

The characters seem well developed. I don’t think you can dislike Ty; the author knows how to write ‘charming’ into a male lead. Some might find him too charming and therefore irritating.  Trixie is a good solid lead too; she has a painful past but she’s not mired in it, nor is she drowning in her own melancholy and dragging her readers with her. Trixie is focussed on looking ahead and it makes me want to read more. I really like Jaunita – something about her character makes me laugh.

 

The plot was…expected but unexpected for me. I’ll leave it at that so as not to go spoilerish. But it was a solid first effort.

 

What needed work? The writing in some areas. There’s an entire scene/conversation between Trixie and a character named Antoinette Chloe Brown at ACB’s house that was just so unbelievable as to spiral into the ridiculous. It was choppy and would never happen. Unbelievable even in the cozy world. It stuck out in my mind for the rest of the book, colouring my overall opinion. Also sticking out – her truly insane belief that Ty, the detective on the case, should allow her to investigate with him, as his partner. Really? Her ex-husband is a deputy sheriff! In what universe is any ex-wife of a cop that naive as to think the lead investigator in a murder is going to let her help investigate?!

 

My opinion? It lowered the overall quality of the book, which has strengths.

 

These lowpoints weren’t enough to stop me from reading the next book in the series. Most firsts are awkward. Fingers crossed the second one will find a better groove.

Not a bad first book in a series. I love the small town Montana setting and I love the idea of the Mercantile – a shop focussing on local, fresh produce and grocery.

 

I didn’t connect immediately with the main characters, but there weren’t any I disliked either. Two possible romantic interests have been introduced and I hope the author treads carefully; there’s a serious backlash against love triangles and I for one am beyond over them. They are tiresome and irritating.

 

The plot was well crafted and adding rampant rumours to the mix muddies up the possibilities very effectively. Lots of suspects too.

 

Overall, a good, solid beginning. I’m not jumping up and down in excitement, but I’ll definitely be adding this series to the list of those that I’m following. I look forward to the next book.

I’m a huge fan of this series – Meg would be on one of those ‘book characters you’d like to know/be’ lists, if I kept such a thing. Her family is wacky, colourful and eccentric and Meg is an absolute master at controlling all of them without them actually knowing it. I admire that skill. She is the sane, calm eye in the Langslow family cyclone.

 

Her house sounds like heaven, complete with an out-building for any and all occasions, enough land to grow whatever any family member has a whim to grow, and a motley collection of animals that just keeps growing.

 

The Hen of the Baskervilles takes place at the Caerphilly County Fair – the ‘Un’Fair. I really liked that the ‘un’ fair centered on heirloom animals and vegetables and I wish such a thing actually existed relative to where I live. The mystery was up to Ms. Andrews usual standards: complex enough to have multiple viable suspects, at least one twist, and a culprit that won’t be obvious to everyone who reads the book.

 

I’ll say it wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it’s definitely entertaining and a welcome addition to what I hope will be a long continuing series.

Excellent start to a series that could be a lot of fun. That half star? Only because I’m not a huge fan of the bar setting – it brings to mind that nasty, dingy atmosphere that smells like beer, smoke, and the sickly sweet smell of drunks. Blech.

 

BUT, one can see the potential in such a setting and Ms. Abbott does an excellent job filling her little world-within-the-bar with likeable, engaging characters. And I genuinely love the twist of Mack’s neurological condition: synesthesia, the condition where the afflicted’s senses are cross-wired so they can taste sounds, or see smells, for instance. It’s rare to stumble across a new idea in cozy mysteries, and this is definitely a new idea – I can’t wait to see what the author is going to do with this in future books.

 

The plot combined the un-solved case of her father’s murder with the more recent dead body Mack finds behind the bar. I love how it ended and that’s all I can say without giving anything away. The tie-in with Capone legends was great fun! I must admit I had it down to two suspects and the one I favoured was the killer at the end, but honestly, guessing right did not diminish this book for me one little bit. I did not want to put this book down until it was done, and then I wanted to read more.

 

An engaging, fast-paced, well-written book that wasn’t ever bogged down by internal dialogue rambles, ‘let’s make a list of the suspects’ or any of those other filler-devices so many author’s use lately. I found it a genuine joy to read and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the second book.

3 stars because I’m just not a fan of the premise – a murder on a movie set placed in the middle of Florida. Murder mysteries within a series, where a whole new cast of characters are introduced are my least favorite; I figure out who’s who in a series and then suddenly I have another passel of characters to figure out and keep straight.

 

Usually this happens when the main character of a series encounters murder and mayhem on vacation, at a conference, etc. But hollywood setting up shop in Himmarshee results in the same thing.

 

I love these sisters although Mama was just too ditzy and narcissistic. I guess her narcissism can be excused though, as Hollywood was there to bring out her worst. The drama between Mace and Carlos started to feel exhausting and I just wanted to yell at the book ‘sit down and have a damn conversation with each other instead of stomping around!’, but I loved the ending and so forgave the frustration.

 

The mystery wasn’t quite as well done as in books past; I guessed the murderer pretty early on. The author left holes in this plot as well (what was up with the whole Raccoon thing?) and I didn’t appreciate AT ALL the use of animals dying as a plot device in this story. I do not like reading about animal death in any way, shape, or form. VERY unappreciated in a cozy mystery, although I will say these deaths were not due to abuse, or characters otherwise taking joy in harming the animals.

 

All in all, not the best book in this series, but the series still shines as a very funny, entertaining look at a side of Florida few people experience and I am looking forward to September’s new release.