Murder On Boston Common by Andrea Kress (Massachusetts Cozy Mystery Book One)

 

Publication Date:

January 21, 2023 

Genre: Cozy Historical Mystery

Length:   194 pages 

Series: Massachusetts Cozy Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

She's rich and bored. This homicide has no motive. Determined to get to the truth, can a socialite solve the murder before she's next?

Boston, 1933. Amanda Burnside yearns for more. Dutifully hitting the social scene and volunteering for charity, the young former debutante is delighted to be dating a doctor yet wishes for excitement. But she wasn't expecting a stroll on Boston Common with her beau to end with the discovery of a dead body.

Shocked by the experience, Amanda ignores her parents' wishes and resolves to follow the clues to uncover the perpetrator. But with shady characters, ruthless bootleggers and wily politicians all fighting to keep the details buried, the plucky amateur sleuth fears the answers may land her in the morgue.
Can Amanda unmask a murderer without becoming the next victim?

My Thoughts

The story was pretty simple and the characters not super fleshed out yet but I have to confess I really enjoyed it. I will likely continue with this series. Sometimes when I read cozy mysteries I can't figure out why I like certain characters better than others. The book had a sense of YA to it in that it was simple but I came away wanting to know more about the next book and see how they develop. Amanda is working hard on her project and volunteering and is more caught up in the mystery drama without trying to be. She and the detective in the story are slightly romantic but definitely nothing serious yet. And the doctor who is proposing marriage is interesting too. 

It didn't have a great big intricate plot of whoodunit and one could have guessed the outcome fairly easitly. But that wasn't all there was to the story. I enjoyed how the author portrayed her family and the doctor's family. Amanda comes from a more aristocratic background (as is so often true in the 1920's cozies) and her parents disapprove of her involvement in "a real job" and of course in the mystery solving. Sounds like a been there done that but the author made these characters authentic and I liked them. 

In addition, there is a whole separate story developing involving Louisa, Amanda's sister and her shady club owner boyfriend, this being the prohibition era. I think it will be fun to see where all of that goes too. 

Some reviews online complained that the story is way too short and the author is just trying to get you to pay for the next one without resolving the first. I totally disagree. After finishing it I came away with feeling things were wrapped up and moving on to another case. So I'm not quite sure why they thought that. Yes, the subsequent mysteries all take place in Boston and might be a bit similiar but as I looked at book two it is a completely different story. 

If you like cozies and need some simple but fun reading you can't go wrong with the Massachusetts Cozy Mystery series, one of the few not set in England either!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Murder at Arleigh by Alyssa Maxwell (A Gilded Newport Mystery Book Thirteen)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Murder at Arleigh, by Alyssa Maxwell. I have come to appreciate this series more, especially since it became a movie series on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. I am very far behind as usual with them and have only read the first three books. It is fun how each focuses on a different mansion in the Newport area. This is another I'm going to try and keep up with in the future. Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Historical Mysteries

 

August 26, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Reporter, sleuth, and new mother Emma Cross Andrews comes to the aid of a distraught wife who’s convinced her husband is trying to kill her . . .

April 1903: Emma and Derrick Andrews have been invited to the wedding of her cousin Reggie Vanderbilt and heiress Cathleen Neilson at the Bellevue Mansion, Arleigh. Their hosts are a popular young couple who are leasing the home for the summer—Harry and Elizabeth “Bessie” Lehr. Known for his practical jokes, Harry is the toast of parties, earning a reputation as the court jester of the Gilded Age. However, as Emma soon learns, behind closed doors he is dead serious.

Following the wedding, Bessie comes to Emma for help, insisting that her husband is cruel to her in private, telling her outright he married her only for her money and finds her repulsive. Divorce is unthinkable. Now she believes he is plotting to murder her and make it look like an a broken balcony railing she might have leaned on, a loose stair runner that could have sent her tumbling down a staircase, faulty brakes in the car she uses . . .

Some would say being trapped in a loveless marriage is a fate worse than death. Not Bessie—she wants to live! Unsure if these situations are mere coincidences or add up to premeditated sabotage, Emma agrees to investigate and determine if Newport’s merry prankster is engaged in a cold-blooded game of life or death . . .

Can't Wait Wednesday: Grave of the Lawgiver by Peter Treymane (A Sister Fidelma Mystery, Book 36)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Grave of the Lawgiver, by Peter Treymane. I will be honest, I have never heard of this author, his books, and got this from my Kindle list titled, "upcoming releases for you." I read a lot of cozy mysteries and historical mysteries so that's understandable. This book is number 36th of the series so I'm shocked I've never run across it! The author's bio says he is a Celtic scholar who has written over 30 books on the Ancient Celts and the Irish. 

It is so unique. That is a main reason I'm featuring it. Set in the year 673 it features an Irish sleuth named Sister Fidelma of Cashel who runs into crimes like any good mystery character. In this book she travels to the Kingdom of East Angles to find someone has murdered the "lawgiver" and burned his house down. She is subsequently accused of the crime, as is her friend, Eadulf. They must find out answers to clear their name.

I really want to see if I like this series. Of course I doubt I'll start with Book 36 but wanted to feature it as it is a series that has been around and much loved for a long time it seems. Very much reminds me of the Cadfael Chronicles which I love and am reading faithfully in order. It is set in a time period I know nothing about so hopefully I will learn some history along the way. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read! Happy reading ya'll!

Medieval Historical Mysteries

 

July 17, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

The year is AD 673. Fidelma accompanies Eadulf to his hometown, Seaxmund's Ham in the Kingdom of the East Angles, to be greeted with the shocking news that Eadulf's uncle, Athelnoth, the lawgiver, has been murdered and his house burnt down. And Eadulf's younger sister is missing.

The locals accuse Fidelma and Eadulf of the crimes, and Fidelma's safety is threatened by the first council of the bishops and kings of the Angles and Saxons, who wish to expel all Hibernian missionaries and teachers from the kingdoms.

Against this opposition, Fidelma and Eadulf must unite to solve one of their most complex mysteries yet.

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown (Lord Edgington Investigates Book One)

 

Publication Date:

March 1, 2021

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:  231 pages

Series: Lord Edgington Investigates

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A little music, a little dancing, a little murder at the spring ball.
England, 1925. After years shut away from the world, former detective Lord Edgington of Cranley Hall plans a grand ball to celebrate his seventy-fifth birthday.

But when someone starts bumping off members of his scheming family, the old man enlists his teenage grandson to help find the killer, before one of them is next.

The mismatched duo must pick the culprit from a gaggle of preening playboys, scatter-brained spinsters and irate inspectors in this Agatha-Christie-style whodunnit that will have you racing to spot the killer.

My Thoughts

I had already read the first Christmas book in the series and wanted to go back and start the first book. It sets the stage for Lord Edgington and his grandson Christopher's relationship and how it begins. Lord Edgington has been a recluse and missing his deceased wife and when he finally decides to live again he wants to celebrate with a ball, putting his grandson in charge of things. Flattered but unsure of himself, Christopher tackles it to the best of his ability and learns to become more independent. He also discovers his talent for sleuthing when two family members are murdered and he and his grandfather work to find out who wants them dead before it happens to all of the family.

I enjoyed the story between the two men as I did in the Christmas book. I also like the author and his back story. So I will continue with the series and plan to read his spinoff, Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad....where they go to exotic locations and murders occur! I also want to start his other series, Marius Quinn Mysteries. Having said that though....this story was a little far fetched for me. I enjoyed it and I like the characters but the plot was kind of over the top to be believable and the murderer's story a little out there too. I can't say a lot because of spoilers but let's just say I wasn't completely sold. So I'm glad I'd read the other one first or I might not have been attached enough to continue. 

I'll just chalk this up to a debut novel and that maybe it just won't be my favorite of the series. I always like to continue and see if I'm still hooked. The covers are gorgeous, the historical cozy vibe is done well, and Lord Edgington clearly has a back story all his own that is slowly being revealed. His children and their offspring are a hot mess and will be great for more stories going forward. Descriptions of the mansion and Christopher's awkwardness are charming and you can't help but love the way Brown depicts him....sweet, innocent, but smart, and hard working. 

This is a great series if you love strong male leads, family loyalty, and the 1920's cozy mystery feel along with the formality of nobility and manners. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Death at a Paris Hotel by Verity Bright (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 22)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Death at a Paris Hotel, by Verity Bright. I already love this series but it is now forever near and dear to my heart because the female member of this husband and wife writing team died tragically in a car accident. Her husband is still recovering as well and is trying his best to honor her by continuing with the series as best he can. She had written ahead and has more books in the ready but sadly those will be it unless he continues writing. 

This is also the first cozy series I started with and I just think they are adorable. My condolences to the family and prayers they are coping as best as they can. 

Cozy Mystery

Historical Mystery

 June 30, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

For Lady Eleanor Swift, Paris means champagne at breakfast, romantic walks by the Eiffel Tower… and her deadliest case yet!

Newlyweds Lady Swift and Detective Hugh Seldon are honeymooning in the most romantic city on earth. Clifford, her butler, has come along for the trip to make sure everything goes to plan for the happy couple. And Gladstone, the mischievous bulldog, to make sure it doesn’t!

But the pair are shocked when, just as they are toasting their new marriage at the best table in their hotel’s opulent restaurant, a man tumbles through the glass roof and lands amid the silverware and coq au vin. Before he dies, he presses a striking pearl brooch into Eleanor’s hands. She has the strangest feeling of déjà vu. Has she met this man before? All too quickly, the local police arrive and immediately accuse the new Mr and Mrs of working with the victim – a thief who’d just robbed the museum down the block.

With her new husband by her side, Eleanor races to clear their name and discover who would kill to get their hands on the unusual brooch. Following a clue about a doomed love affair takes the gang from the famous cabarets and cobbled streets of Paris to rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy at the very top of the Eiffel Tower.

But soon Eleanor notices a mysterious man in black following their every footstep. Is he friend or foe? And can Eleanor and Hugh unravel the case before the City of Light becomes the city of death?

Danger On the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 3)

 

Publication Date:

March 29, 2022

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length: 304 pages

Series: Jane Wunderly Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

For young American widow Jane Wunderly, there are worse fates than adventuring aboard a transatlantic liner with the only man who could change her mind about romance. Unfortunately, her first-class itinerary has an unexpected, and deadly, addition waiting just below deck.

Atlantic Ocean, 1926: Voyaging from Southampton to New York, self-reliant Jane is determined to prove herself a worthy investigator on the stately ship--even awkwardly going undercover as the fashionable wife of her magnetic partner, Mr. Redvers. Few details are known about the rumored German spy the duo have been tasked with identifying among fellow passengers, but new troubles unfold once wealthy newlywed Vanessa Fitz Simmons announces the sudden disappearance of her husband at sea.

Miles Van de Meter, the man Vanessa rushed to marry in Monte Carlo, has allegedly vanished into thin air along with his luggage. Redvers guesses the shifty heiress may be weaving tall tales for fun between flutes of champagne, yet Jane isn't convinced, not after the stunning murder of a trusted acquaintance sends them into uncharted waters. Facing two dangerous mysteries and a boat load of suspects, Jane must navigate a claustrophobic quest for answers before the culprits can slip from her grasp on land, or, worse, ensure she and Redvers never reach their destination.

My Thoughts:

I had been reading this series out of order (not something I like to do anymore) so going back to books 2 and 3 was very helpful and I'm glad I did. Although this definitely wasn't my favorite of the series so far, it does tie up loose ends that book 4 (the one I read first because of the cover and location!) had in it. Jane and Redvers relationship is clearer for me now and I can just go straight to book 5 and pick up from there. This book was a nice addition, just not terribly exciting.

When it opens they are taking the ship to America, where Jane lives, and are posing as husband and wife to find a spy Redvers is looking for. Jane is happy to be sharing time and a room with Redvers although still conflicted about her feelings for him. This being the 1920's and all, it is highly unusual and she is careful about opening up to him, modesty especially important, even though she is a widow. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber (A Lady Darby Mystery Book 13)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, A Tarnished Canvas, by Anna Lee Huber. This is the latest book in the series and although I haven't read it yet, I have read one from her other series, Verity Kent, and thought it was unique and well written. I have the first book from this Lady Darby series so I probably should start it soon. It's called, The Anatomist's Wife. Set in Scotland it is a series that interests me even more. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week. Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mystery

Historical Mystery

 June 24, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Lady Kiera Darby had planned to spend the winter practicing her painting, but instead, she must find the flaw in a killer’s masterpiece when an art auction results in one participant’s final bid.…

March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She’s thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin’s coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.

Within days it becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit’s aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage’s assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent that the victim was not the killer’s intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction deliberately. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they’re on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter’s repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Rose Apple Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu (Su Lin Series Book 9)

 

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For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, I'm featuring, The Rose Apple Tree Mystery, by Ovidia Yu. I was drawn in by the cover and the title. All nine books have a tree name for the title which I thought was fun. And it just looked interesting to me! I downloaded the sample of the first book in the series and read it so quickly I knew I wanted to continue with this series. This is the author's latest book and I want to start at the beginning first. But it is so unique that I am already hooked.

The books are set in 1940's Singapore, and this story is in a place there called the Cameron Highlands. The author really knows her sense of setting as she is from the area. I know almost nothing about the country so I'm looking forward to learning new things. The reviews are good for this series and although you might not have heard of this author, she is well known in her native country for being a great writer. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Mystery

Historical Mystery

 June 5, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

'Til death do us part...

Singapore, 1947. Newlyweds Su Lin and LeFroy are in the Cameron Highlands, an idyllic pocket of countryside on the tropical Malay Peninsula. But this is no honeymoon ... LeFroy is on a protection assignment for powerful businessman Max Moreno and his wife Elfrieda, whose associates have been brutally murdered.

But the hideaway cannot protect the Morenos from vicious threats and ghostly sightings, and when Elfrieda vanishes with a stash of precious emeralds, Su Lin and LeFroy fear the worst. The only clue to Elfrieda's disappearance is rotting fruit from a rose apple tree, piled outside her lodge.

When monsoon floods make escape from the Highlands impossible, Su Lin is determined to find Elfrieda with time to spare to get to know her new husband. But when Max's body is discovered surrounded by rose apples, Su Lin and LeFroy must work together try to prevent further deaths, including their own.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Mydworth Mysteries- Lost in the City of Light (Book 18)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, I'm featuring, Lost in the City of Light, Mydworth Mysteries Book 18, by authors Matthew Costello and Neil Richards. They are a friend duo who have been writing together and working on projects for many years. I have not read this series yet and there are a lot of books to go through but I wanted to share anyway. It is rare to find male cozy mystery writers so I wanted to promote them. 

The main characters are a husband and wife team which is also less common in these 1920's historical cozies. In this story they travel to Paris and one of them goes missing and it's up to the other one to find them without being taken too. 

I hope you've found something you can't wait to read this week! Happy reading ya'll!

 

Cozy Mystery/Historical Mystery

 June 1, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

When Sir Harry is asked to go to Paris for a Secret Intelligence Service meeting, he of course asks Kat to come along. After all, it's Paris in the summer and fun awaits! But the getaway a deux quickly turns dangerous when Harry goes missing. 

Suddenly, with both their lives in danger, it's up to Kat to find out what's really going on. As the trail takes her from grand hotels to the late-night bars of Place Pigalle, it soon becomes clear that treachery has a murderous price in the City of Light.

The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 6)

 

Publication Date:

September 1, 1991

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

 448 pages

Series:

Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Amazon books:

If Indiana Jones were female, a wife and mother who lived in Victorian times, he would be Amelia Peabody Emerson, an archaeologist whose extraordinary adventures are guaranteed entertainment. This time Amelia, her handsome, fearless husband, Radcliffe, and their precocious 11-year-old son, Ramses, are in the Sudan, searching for archaeologist Willoughby Forth, who disappeared 14 years earlier with his new wife. Rescued in the desert after every camel in their caravan dies, the Emersons are taken to a lost city where ancient Egyptian customs have been carried into modern times. 

There, entangled in two half-brothers' battle for the throne, Amelia and family fight for the freedom of the slave class while ferreting out the fate of Forth and his bride, and arranging to escape with their lives. 

Peters ( The Deeds of the Disturber ), who also writes as Barbara Michaels, laces her usual intricate plotting with Amelia's commonsense approach to hygiene and manners, and coyly delicate references to vigorously enjoyed connubial pleasures. Combining a fierce affection for her family with indefatigable independence, stalwart Amelia proves once again an immensely likable heroine.

My Thoughts:

Having finished the previous book in the series in which the family is in England, I was anxious to get back to their usual pyramid digs in exotic places. This time the Peabodys go to Sudan on an epic adventure. They are looking for a man and his wife who have disappeared into the desert 14 years ago and only have a map and their wits to guide them. Facing heat, lack of water and supplies and dying camels the odds are really against them. When they stumble upon an ancient society that has maintained Egyptian customs they are intrigued but soon realize they are also prisoners. The civilization does not want to be discovered and the Peabodys, along with their son Ramses are now coming to understand this is not just a fun history re-enactment but a kidnapping. 

This was truly a wild ride! I honestly enjoyed the first half of the book more, the part where they are asked to search for the Willoughbys, the clues, and just the amazing authentic details that Peters includes as they prepare for the journey and make their way through the desert. I was so excited to know where the map would lead them and was really invested in what they would find. Add to that Amelia and Radcliffe and Ramses banter and it was very entertaining. 

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie (Superintendent Battle Book Two) Read Christie Selection April

 

Publication Date:

January 24, 1929

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

 282 pages

Series: Superintendent Battle Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

A practical joke goes chillingly, murderously wrong in Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie’s classic detective story, The Seven Dials Mystery.

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences.

For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "Seven Dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance.

My Thoughts:

I try to be as honest as I can with my blog and reviews but without being harsh or finding nothing positive to add. I admit this wasn't my favorite Christie story, not even close and I gave up on it twice! But then I decided to stick with it as I'd already invested time in over half the book at that point. I'm glad I did (always glad to finish books!) but it was definitely a strange one. I read that it didn't receive positive reviews when it was released and that is lacked her usual efforts. I guess when you are as prolific a writer as Christie you are bound to have some misses sometimes. 

The "prank" pulled at the very beginning seemed very silly and juvenile to me. But I'm not a practical joker type person and especially noting they do this while someone is sleeping which I find very creepy. Gerry Wade, the victim of the joke is subjected to eight alarm clocks ringing at different intervals and ends up dead (not giving away particulars) so the joke goes horribly wrong. 

There were a lot of characters to keep up with and I just didn't connect with them much so I struggled to pay attention. As the story progressed it got more interesting though and by the time I was ready to quit I was getting intrigued. It changed from just the joke, deaths, and odd secret club mystery to more in depth of a plot involving  scientists and secret formulas. I had to know more. 

"Bundle" the nickname for one of the main characters is actually Lady Eileen Brent and she figures prominently throughout along with her Father and love interest as trying to solve the mystery of the Seven Dials Club, who the members are, and especially who "number 7" is. This is the shady character who might be the key to it all. At this point the story was intriguing and started to have that espionage feel to it that is fun in these types of stories. This occurs about halfway through as does the heavier involvement of Superintendent Battle. The behind it all unfolds very slowly but is a fun reveal and I enjoyed the justice that happens to the murderer. 

While not my favorite, I am glad I stuck with it. Read Christie each month is a reading challenge goal of mine and I try to complete it. I don't always get it done but I give it my best shot! 

The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters (Amelia Peabody Book 5)

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1988

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

389 pages

Series:

Amelia Peabody Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Can fear kill? There are those who believe so but Amelia Peabody is skeptical. A respected Egyptologist and amateur sleuth, Amelia has foiled felonious schemes from Victoria's England to the Middle East. And she doubts that it was a Nineteenth-Dynasty mummy's curse that caused the death of a night watchman in the British Museum. The corpse was found sprawled in the mummy's shadow, a look of terror frozen on the guard's face. 

What or who killed the unfortunate man is a mystery that seems too intriguingly delicious for Amelia to pass up, especially now that she, her dashing archaeologist husband, Emerson, and their precocious son, Ramses, are back on Britain's shores. 

But a contemporary curse can be as lethal as one centuries old and the foggy London thoroughfares can be as treacherous as the narrow, twisting alleyways of Cairo after dark when a perpetrator of evil deeds sets his murderous sights on his relentless pursuer... Amelia Peabody!

My Thoughts:

I seem to be on an Egypt kick this year! I wanted something to listen to besides Agatha Christie books and thought I'd finish this Amelia Peabody I'd started last winter. I prefer reading her books and am reading the next book in the series alongside listening to this one. It's strange because when I finished book 4 I thought I'd take a break from this series but something drew me back in. I am enjoying catching up with Amelia, Emerson, and Ramses again.

I've read this is the only book in the series that takes place in England. I confess that was disappointing because part of the draw is the exotic locations and the explorations of the Peabodys in the pyramids. But I just know that these books can be complex at times and I needed to make sure I read this one to fill in any gaps Also, I like the characters of Walter and Evelyn (Emerson's brother and his wife) and since they are in England with their brood of children, I knew this might be one of the few that included them going forward.

In addition to the mystery of the guard's death, the Peabody's have been saddled with Amelia's brother James' very odd children. They seem to act innocent but get into all kinds of weird situations with Ramses. I began to actually feel sorry for him early in the book. It's a good peek into Amelia's family and her strange upbringing.

S.S. Murder by Q.Patrick

 

Publication Date:

January 1, 1933

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Length:

223 pages

Series: No

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

It’s homicide on the high seas in this mystery by the Edgar Award winning author who wrote the Peter Duluth Mysteries as Patrick Quentin.

Cub reporter Mary Llewellyn is on a soothing sea cruise to help her recover after a minor operation. Her fellow passengers are pleasant enough, gathering to play a friendly game of bridge to pass the time. But the game turns considerably less so when a wealthy businessman samples a cocktail—and ends up dead at the table.  

The news that someone on board dumped a fatal dose of strychnine into the man’s drink sends a ripple of panic through the voyagers. All too soon, it becomes clear that the murder was not an isolated incident when another passenger is shoved overboard during a storm. 

Determined to stop a murderer, Mary decides to do some snooping above and below deck to get to the truth. If she doesn’t figure out the mystery of the seagoing slayer, she might not make it back to land alive.  

My Thoughts

I had heard of the Peter Duluth mysteries but this book was entirely unknown to me when I saw it. It's a stand alone mystery and so you won't miss anything if you read this one only.  The setting drew me in and the cover. I love all things set on the ocean. When I did a little research this is a combination of several people writing these different books. It was a bit confusing so I consulted with Fantastic Fiction's website to get the authors names all correct with the different books. Anyway, this one written by "Q Patrick" seems to be one of just a handful under this pseudonym. 

It started off strong and interesting. The main character, Mary Llewellyn is writing to her fiance in a journal about the events on the ship. She is recovering from surgery and headed home to be married to Davy, and as two murders unfold and the investigation begins she recounts all that involves her and the passengers she has come to know. I liked the style of writing in the diary format and it made her personality come to life. Throughout the book I didn't tire of that. 

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen (A Royal Spyness Mystery Book Three )

 

Publication Date: 

July 7, 2009

Genre:

Cozy Mystery

Series: 

A Royal Spyness Mystery

Length:    

306 pages

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner-and-theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scandal, Georgie's shipped home to Castle Rannoch, where her summer plans include honoring a promise to Her Majesty to keep Castle Rannoch's divorcée houseguest from seducing the Prince of Wales. She's also been coerced into helping Scotland Yard with a top-secret mission - namely keeping an eye on the shooting party at Balmoral and preventing someone from shooting the Prince. And Georgie must manage all this without strangling her odious sister-in-law Fig or spineless brother Binky.

My Thoughts:

I have actually been reading this series in order and I'm pretty proud of myself as I've been known to skip around way too much! This is book three and I'm getting to know the characters better now. Lady Georgie is disheartened by her lack of steady employment. She naively decides to start an "escort" service thinking she will be a dinner companion for men in need of a date. When she is approached by the authorities she agrees it might be best for everyone if she takes a small hiatus and heads to her ancestral castle home in Scotland until things blow over. They also are aware of her knack for solving cases and ask her to keep an eye on who might be trying to target the royal family. Set on hanging at neaby Balmoral, spying, and relaxing with royalty she is instead caught up in murder and mayhem again.

I always enjoy Bowen's wit and this one had plenty. Her two unruly Scottish cousins are entertaining and her Grandfather who is not royal in any way is endearing and simple compared to the stuffy royals and Georgie's brother and sister in law. Her brother, "Binky" who is the current Lord of the manor is laid up in bed with an injury that seems suspicious. Was he deliberately targeted? Is someone trying to pick off the royals at Balmoral? And Wallis Simpson, the American and the young Elizabeth II even make an appearance.

It was a fun read although I honestly found the ending to be a bit much. Too far fetched and the actual reason behind the murders was interesting but not too convincing. I thought the action scenes in the last couple of chapters were over the top and very coincidental too but it all worked out in the end. Bowen did draw on historical rumors for the outcome which was fascinating. I also didn't guess the total "why" behind it all so it was well hidden. It's a fun series and I'll keep reading it going forward. I'm pretty loyal to series books, I just wish I had more time!

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Penford Manor Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith (Miss Clara Vale Mysteries Book 4)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Penford Manor Murders, by Fiona Veitch Smith. I've read the one set in Egypt but this is the latest in the series. I have books one and two on Kindle and it is yet another series I need to read. There are just too many cozy mysteries out there! In this story Miss Clara Vale investigates blackmail and murder while staying at a friend's country house.  

I hope you have found something you can't wait for! Happy reading ya'll!

Cozy Historical Mystery

April 15, 2025

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

It's open season at Penford Manor - and someone has murder in their sights...

At Penford Manor, the guests are arriving to celebrate the start of the grouse-hunting. Lords and ladies, barons and baronesses, a Member of Parliament - and chemistry graduate turned detective, Miss Clara Vale, an old friend of the family. But Clara is no ordinary lady. She's secretly investigating a blackmail plot against Lady Penford herself.

Someone in the house is already up to no good, but when the body of a local trade unionist is found on the grounds, Clara's case gets even more complicated. A clue left by the body links it to the blackmail note.

Who has discovered Lady Penford's secret? Can Clara and her trusted assistant Bella work together to find the murderer? And what do the cornflowers which keep popping up everywhere mean?

Amidst the glittering dresses and sparkling conversation of society, Clara must find the truth - before the killer acts again!