Currently Reading...

I am currently reading French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron. This book is the third book in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series and was released last week.

New Orleans loves a holiday and it’s going all out for Halloween. With a multitude of activities all over town Ricki James-Diaz and her co-workers decide to get in on the action by transforming the Bon Vee  Culinary House Museum into a haunted house with tableaus inside the mansion and an old shed turned into a crypt outside. During the dress rehearsal the staff are shocked to find a real dead body inside the crypt. The victim happens to be the insufferable assistant of their new next door neighbor, the same woman making their lives a misery. With the New Orleans Police Department beyond busy with all of the Halloween happenings and since pretty much everyone at Bon Vee is a suspect it only makes sense they work together once again to solve yet another murder at their property.

Poison in Piccadilly - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a new release that's on my TBR pile. Poison in Piccadilly by Kelly Oliver is the sixth book in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery series. It will be released September 14, 2024.

 Blurb:

1918 London

Is Fiona Figg ready to exchange her sleuthing cap for a bridal veil?

Fiona is set to tie the knot with her dashing flyboy, Archie Somersby. But, while Fiona is busy planning her happily ever after, side-kick Kitty Lane and a group of judo-chopping suffragettes are kicking up trouble at the Piccadilly Jujitsu Club.

When Kitty is found unconscious in the locker room during a high-stakes competition, Fiona must forsake her bouquets and bridal gown to investigate. Her sleuthing leads to a posh lady's luncheon where a mysterious death crashes Fiona's wedding plans.

To make matters worse, the arch-nemesis of all things matrimonial, Fredrick Fredricks is up to his old tricks, attempting to put the brakes on Fiona's journey down the aisle. Will he succeed in tripping up Fiona's wedding vows? Or will she finally say "I don't" to the charming devil?

With humor as sharp as a judo chop and suspense as tight as a wedding corset, Poison in Piccadilly invites you to matrimonial mayhem that will have you saying "I do" to laughter and "forever more" to page-turning suspense.

The book features real life suffragettes Sylvia Pankhurst and her bodyguards trained by Edith Garrud, who taught them jujitsu, which became known as Suffrajitsu.

Buried on a Sundae - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

BURIED ON A SUNDAE by Lena Gregory
The Fourth Coffee & Cream Café Mystery

Danika Delaney is attempting her third date with the dishy Detective Jake Barlow. After all, third time's the charm, right? Unfortunately, after a misstep on her part, he bails after a call from another woman. To lift her spirits she, Gwen, and Eli head for a night out at a popular new hot spot. But instead of  a fun night of drinks and dancing with friends she sees Jake cozying up to the owner's wife. Is he two, or even three timing her? Things get even worse when Danika finds a body in the sand. Could Jake not only be a cheat, but a dirty cop? He certainly couldn't be a murderer. Could he? Dani and her pals put their sleuthing hats on once more to get to the bottom of things. And Dani will hope against hope that it isn't three strikes you're out.  

Secrets, infidelity, dirty cops, and a crime boss come together to turn Dani's life upside down in the fourth Coffee & Cream Café Mystery. What I like best about this series is the humor. Days after finishing the book I still found myself smiling at the antics of Dani and her Scooby gang. But BURIED ON A SUNDAE is not just a funny story, there's a compelling mystery too. With lots of moving parts it was fascinating uncovering the clues to ultimately find the killer. 

What really makes the book special, however, are the characters. From the creepy Reggie to the intriguing club owner/crime boss, all of the players have incredible depth, even those whose roles are not that big. The heart of the series is Dani and her friends and family. From Uncle Jimmie who's always there to help, the smart, but incredibly klutzy Eli, the stalwart best friend Gwen, and Danika, a fiercely loyal and loving friend whose Coffee & Cream Café brings everyone together.

While BURIED ON A SUNDAE is one mishap after another for Dani, it remains a heartwarming story of trust. Laugh out loud funny yet heartfelt, BURIED ON A SUNDAE is an absolute delight!

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 Buried on a Sundae (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory

About Buried on a Sundae 

Buried on a Sundae (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series
Setting - Long Island, NY
Publisher: ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (August 27, 2024)
Digital: Number of Pages 225

From author Lena Gregory comes a delicious new mystery...

Things have been looking up for Danika Delany's business—her uncle's old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island. But for her love life? Not so much. After a disastrous date with Detective Jake Barlow, Danika lets her best friends, Gwen and Eli, talk her into a night out at the hottest new nightclub in town. Only, while there, Dani finds her sort-of boyfriend secreted in the shadows on the beach behind the club with crime boss Patrick Johansen’s wife, Angelique! An upset Dani leaves without giving Jake a chance to explain, but when he doesn’t get in touch the next day, she takes a long walk along the beach to reevaluate her love life. That's where she suddenly stumbles across Angelique’s body buried in the dunes near where she last saw her with Jake. Sure that Jake is innocent—of murder at least—Danika and her friends set out to prove Jake had nothing to do with her murder and stop a killer...before they strike again!

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

• Newsletter: http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.
• Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo -

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Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop - A Review

Review

CHAOS AT THE LAZY BONES BOOKSHOP by Emmeline Duncan
The First Halloween Bookshop Mystery

Capitalizing on the fact that an iconic Halloween movie was once filmed there Elyan Hollow has transformed itself into a year round Halloween themed town with shops such as Elyan's Mortuary and Deli Bottle Shop, Ghostly Gouda, and Baily Briggs' own Lazy Bones Books. Taking the reins of the family bookshop Bailey is spearheading the town's first literary festival, part of the town's popular Halloween festival. After a ghost hunting team wreaks havoc in her shop and her main speaker misses his first event Bailey needs to cool off. But instead of calm in the midst of the pumpkin maze she finds a dead body. As Bailey becomes a suspect she has to wonder, will her first literary festival be her last?

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year, with cooler temperatures and all things spooky. Add a literary festival to a Halloween themed town and you can count me in! Bailey and her best friend Colby made a great first impression and there were also characters you loved to hate in Taylor and Hudson, people just looking to cause trouble. I liked how issues from the past resurfaced, including the mystery of Bailey's dad. The first Halloween Bookshop Mystery sets readers up for lots of interesting adventures to come.

A complex mystery, a unique Halloween setting, and a background of books make a fun start to a new series.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Buried on a Sundae by Lena Gregory. This book is the fourth in the Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series and was released last month.

Danika Delaney is attempting her third date with the dishy Detective Jake Barlow. After all, third time's the charm, right? Unfortunately, after a misstep on her part, he bails after a call from another woman. To lift her spirits she, Gwen, and Eli head for a night out at a popular new hot spot. But instead of  a fun night of drinks and dancing with friends she sees Jake cozying up to the owner's wife. Is he two, or even three timing her? Things get even worse when Danika finds a body in the sand. Could Jake not only be a cheat, but a dirty cop? He certainly couldn't be a murderer. Could he? Dani and her pals have their sleuthing hats on once more to get to the bottom of things. And Dani will hope against hope that it isn't three strikes you're out.

The Poseidon Project - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome E. William Podojil to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Bill writes the Herb Society Mystery series. The Poseidon Project is the first book in the series and was released last month.

Kathy: Molly Halloran has her bucolic retirement upended. Do you hope to have a peaceful retirement, one filled with adventure, or one somewhere in between?

Bill: I hope my retirement is filled with good health first and foremost, and lots of travel to places I’ve never visited. At this point, I hope to be able to continue my writing, as well as work on other projects. I plan to stay as busy as I can be and focus on crafting stories that captivate. I rarely watch television and get my escape through novels and hope I can give stories to other readers.


Kathy: In The Poseidon Project Molly and her friends have to race against the clock and travel halfway around the world to meet kidnappers’ demands. Hopefully you've never had to deal with kidnappers, but have you traveled around the world? Where are your favorite places to visit?

Bill: According to a major US airline that I’ve flown for most of my career, I have traveled about ninety times around the world in terms of my two million flight miles I’ve accumulated. I have been to every continent except Antarctica and over sixty-five countries. I lived in Europe for over a decade so that afforded me the opportunities to see so much. Favorite places so far have been French Polynesia, Peru, Italy, Greece, Vietnam, New Zealand and South Africa.


Kathy: What first drew you to thrillers?

Bill: Since I began reading, I’ve been pulled in by stories that involve suspense and mysteries. I always like to guess who or what the antagonist will be, plus any twists in the plot.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

Bill: I am working on a fictional biography/memoir about a very old character who looks back over his life, but somehow I turned that into a mystery without even trying. My stories have interpersonal relationships, romance, comedy, tragedy and things like that, but ultimately I end up back into mystery and suspense mode at least for part of it.


Kathy: Tell us about your series.

Bill: The Herb Society Mysteries is a series that features four retired friends who share a secret past and use their skills to solve a challenge. Joining the four women are two men who meet in book one and become romantically involved and help the four women solve their challenges. I have just submitted book 2 that involves aspects from book 1, but is a stand-alone story. My goal is to have a link between each of the books (characters, plots, bad-guys, etc.) but still work together. Through these stories, the characters evolve, change and experience many ups and downs just like in life.


Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

Bill: My favorite character is Lukas Halloran, who is a secondary protagonist and son of one of the Herb Society women. I like Lukas because he’s handsome, rich extremely smart at technology and has a lifestyle many people envy, but deep down he still sees himself as the nerdy, awkward neurotic kid he was growing up. He analyzes everything, sometimes to his detriment, and uses logic over emotions most of the time. But when he uses emotions and falls in love with Taylor, he’s all-in, even though he doesn’t understand logically what that means.


Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

Bill: My mom and her group of friends inspired the storyline. They are all former teachers who have had amazing careers, travels and interests. They still get together regularly, are active and still travel. One time I talked with the group and was amazed at all the things these women had accomplished individually and collectively and it inspired me to show how inside every retired or elderly person, is a collection of wild stories, adventures and memories. 

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

Bill: Well, like most authors, I sent out query letters and got a couple of responses back. When I signed the contract with the Wild Rose Press, they helped me edit and improve the story with their great team of artists, editors and professionals. They have been wonderful partners in bringing the story and series to life.


Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

Bill: James Michener, Madeline Miller, Douglas Stuart and John Boyne would be at my dinner table. Each of these writers have written stories where I became completely immersed in the location, the time period and the culture in which the stories take place.


Kathy: What are you currently reading?

Bill: I am currently reading Hombrecito by Santiago Jose Sanchez


Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

Bill: Travel is obviously something I love and especially learning about the place I’m visiting. Not just things to see, but customs, ghost stories, legends, historical events, food and things that make a place real. I also love to hike, work in my gardens and write.


Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

Bill: Coke Zero, Sparkling Water, Espresso beans, eggs and good bread


Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

Bill: I have three books minimum planned for the Herb Society Mysteries series, but if the books are well-received, I’ve got plenty of adventures I can write about for the series. My fictional biography is something I work on occasionally. Finally, I want to write a story about my three sons, all of whom were adopted internationally. We know next to nothing about their biological families since they were given up for adoption at birth. Two of my boys are from Guatemala and one is from Vietnam - three brothers born thousands of miles apart and how they grow up to be men with families of their own. In real life, they are young adults now and their own lives are starting to take off, so I’m not sure how I would tell the story. Any ideas anyone?


Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

Bill: Storytelling is one of the most effective and human ways to impart information, history and culture. Ultimately, it is entertainment, escape, learning and how the stories, messages and words resonate with the reader. I absolutely love this part of my job.

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 The Poseidon Project (The Herb Society Mysteries) by E William Podojil

About The Poseidon Project

The Poseidon Project (The Herb Society Mysteries)
Mystery- Suspense - Adventure 1st in Series
Setting - Tucson, AZ and Dubai, UAE
Publisher: ‎ Wild Rose Press (August 26, 2024)
Paperback: ‎ 270 pages

Molly Halloran and her friends have a secret past. Their bucolic retirement is suddenly upended when Molly’s husband is abducted and held for a steep ransom. Now she, her friends, her tech executive son, Lukas and his Air Force pilot boyfriend must race against the clock and travel halfway around the world to meet the kidnappers’ demands. But when they learn why her husband has been abducted, they realize how high the stakes truly are. Molly and her friends now must face their past in order to save the future. But not only their futures; the world’s.

About E William Podojil

E. William is an international business executive and novelist. He has traveled extensively and visited over sixty countries while based in Europe and the USA. Podojil works as an executive business advisor, strategist, and coach while also pursuing his love of storytelling and writing. His second novel, The Poseidon Project, will be published in 2024 by The Wild Rose Press and is the first in a series of adventure thrillers. Podojil writes personal, humorous stories of his life and travels with his husband and three sons in his blog at www.ewpodojil.com.

Author Links Website/Blog Facebook Instagram X Threads

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In the Event of Murder - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

IN THE EVENT OF MURDER by Cynthia Kuhn
The Second Starlit Bookshop Mystery 

Everyone in Silvercrest, Colorado is excited for the Silvercrest Library Gala. Emma Stars is preparing for the classic mystery panel to be held at her family's bookstore as part of the event and is excited to attend the gala itself. This year the fundraiser is featuring stars from the popular television series Chasers, including hometown native Whitney Willton. Whitney's niece, Lyra, who also left Silvercrest for Hollywood, is joining her as event planner for the gala and associated events. But excitement turns to tragedy when Lyra is found murdered. However, the show must go on and Emma takes over as the event planner. As she and her nemesis and event chair butt heads, more problems plague the event. Is someone sabotaging the gala? Or targeting the Chasers cast? Emma will do her best to make the event a success as she quietly tries to solve the murder.

I really enjoyed the second Starlit Bookshop Mystery. Emma is a likable protagonist. She's smart, but has a few foibles. I also really like her aunt and sister, even though they have much smaller roles in this story. Meanwhile, Tabitha is the character we love to hate. She's the stereotypical mean girl who continues to believe she's the Queen Bee even as an adult. I admit to some satisfaction seeing her put in her place a few times.

IN THE EVENT OF MURDER is unique in that Lyra's murder is almost secondary to the gala preparation itself. She was murdered and Emma took over her role and the story concentrated on planning and executing the event instead of solving Lyra's murder. 

Despite all the pettiness and character assassinations, there was an element of romance as well. Ryan's transformation of the event space was magical and despite Emma's protestations, there may be romance ahead for her and there's definitely romance for a few other characters!

With Hollywood drama and Colorado common sense, IN THE EVENT OF MURDER is a high spirited mystery of jealousy and ruthless ambition.

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 In the Event of Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery) by Cynthia Kuhn

About In the Event of Murder

In the Event of Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series
Setting - Colorado
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books (August 20, 2024)
Hardcover: ‎ 304 pages

It’s the star-studded event of the season in Silvercrest, Colorado—but some of the guests might not make it to the last dance alive in the second charming installment of the Starlit Bookshop mysteries from Agatha Award-winning author Cynthia Kuhn.

Nestled on the banks of a breathtaking Rocky Mountain river and dotted with delightful boutiques and galleries, Silvercrest, Colorado, is a book lover’s paradise. Bookseller and literary event planner Emma Starrs is looking forward to attending the annual Silvercrest Library Gala, a glamorous evening with celebrities including the legendary Whitney Willton, currently on the hit crime show Chasers, and her niece, party-planner-to-the-stars Lyra Willton. Gala Week is full of exciting activities honoring both page and screen, and library board president Tabitha Baxter is basking in the glow of her successful launch—until Lyra is found dead.

With the gala only days away, the board asks Emma for help, despite Tabitha—her longstanding nemesis—bristling over the choice. Emma agrees, even though she is already in charge of a classic mystery panel at her family’s bookstore, Starlit Books, which turns out to have its own challenges. Meanwhile, Whitney, who is aware of Emma’s sleuthing skills, begs her to find the killer. The case grows more complex with the disappearance of several priceless objects, an attack on one of the attending celebrities, and other predicaments. Emma searches for clues while handling every unexpected twist and turn leading up to the extravagant affair. But when the guests step onto the red carpet, a killer still lurks in the shadows—and murder just might become the main event.

About Cynthia Kuhn

Cynthia Kuhn writes the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries, which focus on a bookseller solving crimes in an artistic mountain community, and the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries, featuring a professor-turned-amateur-sleuth. Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Diabolical, Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.

Author Links: 

Website: https://cynthiakuhn.net 

Blog: http://chicksonthecase.com  

Twitter/X: http://www.twitter.com/cynthiakuhn  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org - PenguinRandomHouse  

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