A Poetic Pox - A Review

 Review

A POETIC POX by Samantha Larsen
The Third Lady Librarian Mystery 

Loathe to leave her family, especially during the holidays, Tiffany Lathrop nonetheless agrees to accompany her friend and employer, Catherine, the Duchess of Beaufort on an overnight trip to visit an old friend. The Marquess of Harwood requested Catherine visit with her young son as he had just returned after years abroad and was dying. Upon their arrival staff tried to barr their entry, but they were no match for a determined duchess! Tiffany is stunned to find the abbey in disrepair, the valet dead, and the Marquess near death himself, both men seemingly poisoned. Though loving her role as a new mother, Tiffany is excited leave dirty nappies for a bit and solve another murder. Who wants to kill the Marquess? Does it have something to do with the smallpox epidemic that ravaged the town twenty years prior? Does a baseborn son believe he's entitled to an inheritance? With untrustworthy servants and a town filled with secrets Tiffany will have to rely on her wits and the support of her friends and their own staff to outsmart a villain! 

Trapped in a decaying mansion with murderer and a possible ghost A POETIC POX is a delightfully creepy mystery. The servants of Rosedean Abbey are as unwelcoming and unpleasant as the Abbey itself. Small hints are periodically left that Tiffany and the astute reader are able to catch to reveal the secrets hidden both in the Abbey and the town itself. I appreciate how Tiffany simultaneously cared for her baby and searched for clues to catch a killer. I also enjoyed how one after another layers of secrets kept for decades were slowly revealed.

Twists and turns in an decaying abbey make A POETIC POX a superb mystery. I love this series and can't wait to see what happens next!

Black Cat and the Immigrant Child - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to allow Elaine Faber to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. Elaine writes the Black Cat Mystery series. Black Cat and the Immigrant Child is the fifth book in the series.

Why Do Writers Write?

I’ll bet if 100 people were queried, at least 75% would claim that someday they plan to write a book, most likely a memoir. The remaining 25% would likely conclude that even though they may never get around to it, and the world will be the lesser for it, they could if they wanted to. The thousands of hours required to write, edit, and format a book for publication never enter the equation.

Yet a frightening number of us do spend the time and energy, and a zillion books DO get published every year. Most of them get posted on Amazon, where they are buried as deep as a sticker in a cow plop among millions of other books. Occasionally, one actually sells! 

Now, I’ve become one of those people who decided there was a book in me that would be a loss to the world if they did not delve into its pages. After about a skillion hours of writing, rewriting, editing, mentoring, and more rewriting, my novel was finally completed, formatted, published, and made available for sale to the millions of folks clamoring to be amused, entertained, charmed, and delighted by my scintillating characters. This became the first of twelve more novels to follow. 

In my cozy cat mystery series (the latest called Black Cat and the Immigrant Child) none have yet to become a New York Times Best Seller, but there is a cat who, with his ancestors’ memories, knows where the bodies are buried. In this adventure, he wants desperately to assist his inferior humans, who are usually too busy searching for bandits’ lost loot and protecting the little girl found on the prairie alongside a dead man. The story contains a smattering of romance, a few downright stinkerisms, cartels and drug lords, an innocent refugee child, and a cat that joins forces with a Maine Coone barn cat and a rat to help his inferior human catch a killer. 

So, why do I write when the hours are long, the glory is nonexistent, and the financial rewards are few and far between?

I guess I write because these characters are in me, screaming to get out, and even if I don’t have a Best-Seller, many of the good folks who read my novels come back and tell me about their reading experience. For just a little while, they left their troubles behind, traveled to a little resort town, and entered my make-believe world, where the good guy wins with lots of laughs along the way. For a few hours, they frolicked through the pages, with a cat determined to help Kimberlee solve the latest mystery.

That’s when I know. That’s why I write. That’s why it’s all worth it.

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Bio:

Elaine Faber has published 12 mystery novels and one ‘CAT’ anthology. She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Northern CA Writers and Publishers, and Elk Grove Writers’ Guild. Her stories have also appeared in multiple magazines and anthologies.

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 Black Cat and the Immigrant Child (A Black Cat Mystery) by Elaine Faber

About Black Cat and the Immigrant Child

Black Cat and the Immigrant Child (A Black Cat Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 5th in Series
Setting - Texas
Publisher: ‎ Michael L. Faber
Publication Date: ‎ January 6, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 254 pages

A tale of corruption and deceit met with compassion and tenacity.

Kimberlee, Dorian, and their pets return to Grandmother Lassiter’s multimillion-dollar horse ranch on the Mexico/Texas border to settle her affairs following her demise.

On their first day in Texas, an illegal immigrant, likely carrying drugs, is found murdered on the Lassiter ranch. A six-year-old girl is at his side.

Black Cat and Angel overhear a ranch hand admit to the murder and declare to eliminate the child who witnessed his crime.

Determined to shelter the little girl, the family is thrust into affairs that include intrigue, humor, and mystery. Join the family as they ride with wild horses and search for a notorious Wild West bandit's undiscovered stolen treasure.

Black Cat joins forces with Murphy, his Maine Coon rival and compatriot, and Cedric, the resident barn rat, in an attempt to prevent another murder and capture the miscreant.

Sprinkled generously with Black Cat and Angel’s humorous relationship and interactions, this is another story that will delight Black Cat’s fans, cat lovers, or readers who enjoy light mysteries and humor.

About Elaine Faber

Elaine Faber lives in Elk Grove with her husband and cat. She is a member of Capitol Crimes, NCPA, and Elk Grove Writers Guild. She volunteers at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. Elaine has published 12 cozy mystery novels and an anthology of cat stories. Her books include a WWII historical fiction series, a series of cozy cat mysteries, and two paranormal mystery-adventures.

Author Links: Website: Facebook Goodreads 

 Purchase Link - Amazon

A Whiff of Murder - A Review

 Review

 A WHIFF OF MURDER by Angela M. Sanders

The First Sixth Sense Mystery

 

Lise Bloom has the unique ability of smelling emotion and even history. So after a scandal in Seattle, it's no wonder that it's a scent that leads Lise to settle in Astoria, Oregon. In an attempt to learn more about her gift Lise works in a New Age shop, but she's not finding the answers she needs. With encouragement from her housemates at Corrie House Lise e-mails in her resignation. Feeling some trepidation going to work the next morning she's surprised to see her boss's car in the alley with its tires slashed. She's even more surprised to see her boss's dead body. Did the toxic relationship with her ex-husband finally lead to murder? Did the changes she made to her will cause her untimely demise? The shocks keep coming when the detective in charge turns out to be a frenemy, emphasis on enemy, from Seattle. In order to save herself from a murder charge Lise will have to investigate herself and find a killer.

 

A WHIFF OF MURDER is a story about opposites - love and hate, young and old, living and dead. Yet even though some things are smack in your face, others are more nuanced. Important details are slowly revealed and I'm interested to see what will be uncovered in future books; Lise's gift, her origins, and even more compelling, the story of Corrie House itself and that library in particular.

 

The characters were unique. Lise was a bit underwhelming as a protagonist, but primarily because of the more interesting secondary characters. I love Teddy, the older owner of Corrie House who has a vibrant past and even more I adore the residents of Blavatsky Manor. I'm not a fan of Fran, even though I love some of her idiosyncrasies, but I am curious to see if she grows and changes. My favorite character, however, is Corrie House itself, and it is a character.

 

The mystery itself was well plotted with the various subplots enhancing the story. There are many subplots, all of which are captivating and none of which take away from the mystery.  

 

Humor alleviates the somewhat oppressive atmosphere and with a hint of the paranormal and a lot of foreshadowing A WHIFF OF MURDER makes a creative and intriguing start to a new series.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Poetic Pox by Samantha Larsen. This book is the third in the Lady Librarian Mystery series and was released last month. 

Loathe to leave her family, especially during the holidays, Tiffany Lathrop nonetheless agrees to accompany her friend and employer, Catherine, the Duchess of Beaufort on an overnight trip to visit an old friend. The Marquess of Harwood requested Catherine visit with her young son as he had just returned after years abroad and was dying. Upon their arrival staff tried to barr their entry, but they were no match for a determined duchess! Tiffany is stunned to find the manor in disrepair, the valet dead, and the Marquess near death himself, both men seemingly poisoned. Though loving her role as a new mother, Tiffany is excited leave dirty nappies for a bit and solve another murder. Who wants to kill the Marquess? Does it have something to do with the smallpox epidemic that ravaged the town twenty years prior? Does a baseborn son believe he's entitled to an inheritance? With untrustworthy servants and a town filled with secrets Tiffany will have to rely on her wits and the support of her friends and their own staff to outsmart a villain!

The Case of the Christie Curse - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Theo Sharp to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Theo on the pages of the Detection Club Mystery series by Kelly Oliver. THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE CURSE is the third book in the Detection Club Mystery series and was released February 21, 2026!

 

My name is Theo Sharp and I’m a character in Kelly Oliver’s Detection Club Mysteries. Of course, Eliza Baker is the main character. But I’d like to think she couldn’t solve crimes without me. Like Kelly, I’m an aspiring mystery writer. But I’m lucky enough to spend time with the great crime writers who are members of London’s Detection Club, including Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers.

In case you want to know more about me, I’ve agreed to answer a few questions from Kelly.

Where do you live? At present, I live wherever my valise lands. Hotels, trains, borrowed rooms with windows that rattle when the wind changes its mind. Officially, I’m heir to a family estate in Sussex with its lawns clipped into obedience and portraits of men who look perpetually disappointed in me. For the most part, I manage to avoid it. Too much inheritance in the air. Too many expectations pressing in from the walls.

My own address, however, is a one-room flat above a bookstore in London, which feels less like an address and more like a state of mind. The floors creak, the radiators knock like impatient readers waiting for the next installment of their favorite series, and the smell of paper and dust seeps into everything I own. I work off part of the rent by minding the shop, shelving, recommending, occasionally rescuing a first edition from the hands of someone who means it harm. It suits me. Living among books makes the world feel legible, even when it stubbornly refuses to be read.

What is a typical day like for you? Let’s say, before Eliza Baker reappeared in my life, my mornings would begin with coffee and the shop’s front door, which sticks unless persuaded gently. If it’s a good day, I would read or write before the customers arrive, usually failing to improve my reputation as a novelist. I’ve written one mystery. It was… not a success. Still, I persist. Afternoons are for observation: customers, conversations, the small tells people don’t realize they’re giving away. Evenings tend to involve the Detection Club, which is still a marvel to say aloud, as I’m newly minted and not entirely convinced someone won’t revoke the invitation.

After Eliza Baker reappeared and drew me into her orbit, there is no longer any such thing as typical, which suits me perfectly. Some mornings begin with coffee strong enough to resurrect the dead and a chess problem that refuses to be solved. Others begin with a body, a lie, or a train departing earlier than expected. I read when I can, observe always, and think perhaps too much. By evening, I am usually trying—and often failing—to articulate something important, whether in a notebook, a conversation, or a glance exchanged across a room, always involving her.

What is your favorite food? Bread with good butter, eaten late at night when no one is watching. It’s unpretentious, grounding, and deeply unfashionable, all qualities I admire. Also, it reminds me that simplicity, when done well, can be revelatory. Kelly says her favorite is something called a taco. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a taco.

What is your favorite drink? Coffee when I need courage. Whisky when I need perspective. (I almost feel back answering this since I know Kelly can’t drink coffee or whiskey anymore.) Tea when Agatha Christie is present, which is often. She drinks it with a kind of quiet authority that suggests she knows more than she’s saying, which of course she does. Dorothy Sayers prefers something stronger, and conversations with her tend to improve once you follow her lead.

What makes you happy?
Moments of clarity. A chess position that suddenly opens like a locked door. A mystery that yields. Not all at once, but just enough to keep going. And, occasionally, the quiet knowledge that someone else sees the world as sharply as I do and chooses to stand beside me anyway.
Being taken seriously. Especially by the Detection Club and writers I admire. And of course, the attentions of Eliza Baker. Watching her think, move, dismantle a room with her eyes. Loving her, quietly, imperfectly, and, if I’m honest, hoping that what feels unrequited is merely… unfinished. But, I guess whether I have a happy ending is up to Kelly… hint, hint.

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Review

THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE CURSE by Kelly Oliver
The Third Detection Club Mystery 

 

During a meeting of the Detection Club a letter arrives for Eliza Baker. Agatha Christie feels that something is not quite right on the archaeological dig she's on and requests the presence of members from the club. Soon Eliza, Theo Sharp, and Dorothy Parker are sweltering under the sun in 1930 Mesopotamia. Eliza quickly feels that Agatha is right, something is off. Some of the workers are calling it the Queen's curse, but Eliza is pretty sure the problems are man made-including the murder of one of the archaeologists...even though the leaders of the group are quick to call it an accident. With shifty characters, an unwelcome journalist, and feelings she'd rather keep buried Eliza will have to uncover secrets some would kill to keep.

 

I truly enjoyed this trip to a 1930s archaeological dig. While everyone can enjoy this mystery those who know historical details about Agatha Christie will find it even more delightful as Max Mallowan is a character here! The detailed descriptions made me feel the oppressiveness of the dig, the atmosphere heavy with suspicion as well as the heat and desert winds!

 

The mystery was inventive with lots of possibilities. While I was pretty sure that I knew the killer, I was unsure of the motive, and was surprised by another's involvement. Almost as important as the mystery was the developing relationship between Eliza and Theo. Finally feelings are being realized, if repressed.

 

THE CASE OF THE CHRISTIE CURSE is an engaging historical mystery that provides romantic quandaries amidst an intriguing puzzle.

 

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The Case of the Christie Curse: (A Detection Club Mystery) by Kelly Oliver

About The Case of the Christie Curse

The Case of the Christie Curse: (A Detection Club Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting – Mesopotamia
Publication Date: ‎ February 21, 2026
Publisher: ‎ Boldwood Books
Digital Print Length: ‎ 288 pages

Mesopotamia, 1930: When Agatha Christie invites fellow members of the Detection Club to witness the famous excavations at the ruins of Ur, Dorothy L. Sayers, her quick-witted assistant Eliza Baker, and Theo Sharp expect ancient wonders – not fresh corpses.

But when an archaeologist is found dead in the sand, whispers of a deadly curse sweep through the camp. Eliza suspects something far more dangerous than superstition. Amid glittering artifacts and fragile alliances, every guest harbors secrets: the Woolleys, whose marriage is shadowed by tragedy; a journalist hungry for scandal; even academic Max Mallowan, whose loyalties are not what they seem.

As theft, forgery, and coded messages surface, the line between archaeology and espionage blurs. And when Eliza and Theo find themselves in danger, they must face not only the truth about the murder – but also the truths they’ve long denied about each other. Can they uncover the killer before the desert claims another victim? Or will this dig unearth secrets too dangerous to survive?

About Kelly Oliver

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of four mystery series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, The Fiona Figg Mysteries, and The Detection Club Mysteries.

Kelly is the Past President of Sisters in Crime National, current Education Coordinator for SinC Guppies, and a Distinguished Emerita Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.

To learn more about Kelly and her books, go to kellyoliverbooks.com.  

Author Links: 

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kelly-oliver  

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Oliver/e/B001HN3HCM/ 

INSTAGRAM @kellyoliverbooks  

Pinterest Kelly Oliver Books https://www.pinterest.com.au/oliver743  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kellyoliverauthor/  

Pinterest Kelly Oliver Books https://www.pinterest.com.au/oliver7431/  

Purchase Links: Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK Amazon AU Amazon IN

Side Hustle - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book being released tomorrow. Side Hustle by Wendy Gee is the second book in the Carolina Crossfire Mystery series.

Blurb:

Action 7’s viewers count on Sydney Quinn to expose corruption in Charleston. When a former firefighter takes two paramedics hostage, Sydney persuades her detective pal to let her interview the guy in return for gathering intel. Inside, Sydney finds the body of her friend, a local insurance executive, who the hostage taker blames for terminating his worker’s comp benefits. Despite the obvious motive, he says he’s being framed for the woman’s murder. Sydney’s investigation uncovers massive identity theft and cyber-embezzlement. Derailing a network of hackers should be routine, except she’s haunted by memories of a Taliban firefight from her time embedded with Marines in Iraq. And when those dark memories bubble up, the only thing holding them at bay is driving fast cars, eating fast food, and swatting fast balls at the batting cage. Eventually, Sydney must rely on her instincts and intellect to prevent further damage.

Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Heather Weidner back to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Heather writes the Jules Keene Glamping Mystery series. Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs is the fifth book in the series.

 
Kathy: In Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs Fern Valley is having its first teddy bear and toy festival. I love teddy bears, stuffed animals and toys, I don't care that I'm an adult of mature years. What about you? Is this an event you'd like to attend? 

HW: I would definitely attend. I have collected teddy bears for years. I have bears in all the main rooms of my house. 

Kathy: Do you still have stuffed animals and toys? Do you buy new ones for yourself? 

HW: I do have a lot of stuffed animals and toys. I kept some of my favorites from my childhood, and I’m glad I saved them. My nieces had a blast playing with the “classic” toys. I still collect teddy bears, and I add to the collection every so often (usually when I find something cute or a souvenir from one of our trips).

Kathy: Paranormal investigators are also on hand to investigate local haunts. Do you believe in ghosts? 

HW: I don’t think I’ve ever encountered one, but there are a lot of people who have. I live in Central Virginia, and there are lots of battlefields and cemeteries around, and all have lots of good ghost stories to go with them. (I once worked at a company in downtown Richmond that was built near the old state penitentiary. When they were building the office next door, they had to stop construction because they found paupers’ graves from the old state prison. It was also very close to the location of a civil war prisoner of war camp and a civil war munitions factory.) I have coworkers who swear that they’ve seen evidence of ghosts nearby, such as lights and faucets going on and off when no one was around. 

Kathy: Have you ever had a paranormal experience? 

HW: Not that I know of. I’ve had a couple of times when I had a really funny feeling about a relative or friend being in trouble, and when I called them, they were experiencing an emergency situation. I’m not sure if that counts as paranormal or not.

Kathy: Was there a specific inspiration for this story? 

HW: I’m in a mystery writers’ group that brings in experts in a variety of areas. One had a presentation on paranormal explorers. They explained what they did (and didn’t do) and showed us some of the tools they used. It was really interesting. 


Kathy: Are you able to share any future plans for Jules? 

HW: As of today, there will be nine books in the series. I’m currently working on book 8. (Here’s a secret about book 6. The Idiot, Jules’s ex-husband, shows up, and he gets himself mixed up in a murder investigation.) 


Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between? 

HW: I am a plotter. I work in IT, and I love my project plans and spreadsheets. I still have a day gig, so my writing time is limited. It helps me to do a detailed outline before I start writing. I am able to finish a manuscript faster if I have plotted out all of the details, plots, and subplots.


Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing? 

HW: This is so true. I really like social media. I love connecting with readers and other writers. I have to manage my time though to make sure that I’m not spending all my writing time marketing. Being a writer is a lot of work (not all writing-related). It is worth it, but it does take time to make sure all bases are covered.


Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books? 

HW: This year, book two in the Pearly Girls came out. Book four in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries launches next month, and book six in the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries comes out this fall. All three are cozy mystery series with very different sleuths.

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 Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery

About Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs

Teddy Bears and Ghostly Lairs: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery
Cozy Mystery 5th in Series
Setting - Virginia
Publisher: ‎ Level Best Books
Publication Date: ‎ December 9, 2025
Print Length: ‎ 244 pages

The town of Fern Valley, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has overdosed on cuteness for its first teddy bear and toy festival. Adorable bears have taken over every inch of the town, and Jules Keene can barely keep up with all the guest check-ins at her glamping resort. To add to the fun, a team of paranormal investigators set their sights on her vintage trailers and the new treehouse as they investigate the local haunts. It quickly becomes evident that things aren’t all sweet and cuddly when someone absconds with collectible toys. Then, to make matters worse, Jules and her friends trip over something not so other-worldly at an abandoned motel during a paranormal investigation. The very real corpse is the prickly vendor who raised a ruckus about his stolen merchandise and the weird things that were afoot in the cozy, one-stop light town. Jules has to calm frayed nerves and solve the mystery before there are any other thefts or grisly murders.

About Heather Weidner

 

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, Murder by the Glass, First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder, and Crime in the Old Dominion, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook. She is a member of Sisters in Crime: National, Central Virginia, Chessie, Guppies, and Grand Canyon Writers, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers, and she blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill. Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a crazy Mini Aussie Shepherd named Cooper.  

Author Links:

• Website and Blog: http://www.heatherweidner.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherWeidnerAuthor
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_mystery_writer/
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@heather_mystery_writer
• BlueSky: Heather Weidner (@heatherweidner.bsky.social) — Bluesky
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heather_weidner_author
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121854.Heather_Weidner
• Amazon Authors: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00HOYR0MQ
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherBWeidner/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-weidner-0064b233?trk=hp-identity-name
• BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-weidner-d6430278-c5c9-4b10-b911-340828fc7003
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyBjyB0zz-M1DaM-rU1bXGA?view_as=subscriber
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/HeatherWeidner1
• Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Bookshop.org