Deadly Ruse - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

DEADLY RUSE by Kate Parker
The Fourteenth Deadly Mystery 

In July 1943 with her husband assigned to North Africa Olivia Redmond and their son Stevie are living in the Coswolds with her good friend Esther. That is until she gets a call from British spymaster Sir Malcolm. Livvy is to report to Trent Park House just outside of London. The house has been turned into a Prisoner of War Camp for German generals, completely bugged with German speakers listening in the basement. Livvy is to teach sketching classes to the generals in the hopes of getting them relaxed and talking. The first surprise is seeing Oberst, now General, Bernhard as a prisoner. The second is the discovery of one of the POWs killed and stuffed in her art cabinet. Livvy soon finds herself dealing with stolen jewels, a plot against England, and another assault. Will she be able to convince the Germans she's merely an art teacher as she tries to solve the secrets of Trent Park House and a murder? Or will she be the next to be silenced?  

In a house that's bugged with guards all around there's plenty of room for assault and murder, but who's behind it? In my mind no one could be trusted, and I was definitely right about one person in particular. Add hidden jewels and different factions between the generals and their batmen and you get one heck of a great mystery. I love how Livvy stands up to Sir Malcolm, at least as much as she's able, yet manages to to her undercover work with ease. The mystery was complex, characters real, and wartime details fascinating.

As a fan of the Deadly series since it began I can't tell you how thrilled I was to see a book featuring my favorite secondary character-Oberst Wilhelm Bernhard. We haven't really seen him since the war began and I was honestly worried about him. Readers learn that he rose to the rank of general, but is now a prisoner of war. I was relieved to find him still alive! And still anti Nazi!

With attention to detail, fascinating characters, and an intriguing mystery DEADLY RUSE is a captivating World War II novel that will keep you engaged from start to finish. I'm already looking forward to the next installment.

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 Deadly Ruse: A World War II Mystery (Deadly Series) by Kate Parker

About Deadly Ruse

Deadly Ruse: A World War II Mystery (Deadly Series)
Historical Cozy Mystery 14th in Series
Setting - England
Publisher: ‎ JDP Press
Publication Date: ‎ June 23, 2026
Number of Pages ~300

As the war's outcome shifts, deception is an art--and survival depends on who's painting the picture. When British spy Olivia Redmond is summoned again by her elusive spymaster, she's expecting danger--not an invitation to teach drawing to captured German generals at Trent Park House. But beneath the genteel cover of sketches and civility lies a deadly ruse: the lavish POW mansion is wired for sound, every whispered secret a weapon in Britain's intelligence war. Among the prisoners is Oberst Bernhard, a conflicted German officer from Livvy's past. When murder, stolen jewels, and a suspected plot among the prisoners ignite within Trent Park, Livvy must decide whom she can trust--and how far she'll go to expose a truth wrapped in loyalty and lies. From the candlelit salons of wartime espionage to the shadows of betrayal, Deadly Ruse is a gripping historical mystery where every stroke of trust could be fatal.

About Kate Parker

Kate Parker has long wanted to build a time travel machine. However, after several false starts, she gave up and created time travel by going back in time inside her books. Since she’s fond of murder mysteries, it is probably best that all of her travel is inside books or police from various ages would be hunting her. When not recreating old time buildings and fashions, she can be found with a modern computer and modern air conditioning in North Carolina with her daughter and a 115 lb. puppy who could just crash through any time barrier.

Author Links Website – Facebook

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Driedels and Dead Ends - A Book Blast!

 

An Excerpt:

Retracing her steps, she realized she’d missed a turnoff from the kitchen. It led to a storage area for fine bone china and glassware, a dumbwaiter for delivering food to the second floor, and a wine cellar down a short flight of steps. She could smell the barrel-aged wine even from here.

Wait, what? Florida homes didn’t have basements. In her mind’s eye, she regarded the house from the outside. It had been built on a slope, presumably allowing for a lower level.

The owner must have stashed his bootlegger liquor there. In that case, the cellar might have a tunnel leading away from the house. And this inner door would have been disguised to hide its true purpose during a raid.

For that matter, where was the vault hidden? Upstairs in the master suite?

A brilliant thought hit, and she smacked her head. If she or Dalton had thought of it earlier, they could have obtained a blueprint of the place. Too late now, but that would have made things a lot easier. Now she just had her own intuition to guide her.

She peered down the stairs to the dark cellar but didn’t hear any voices coming from that direction. Quietly, she shut the door. Dread pressed upon her shoulders as she realized she’d have to go upstairs. This hadn’t been in her game plan. If she were wise, she’d wait outside until Dalton could get there. Or she could grab a defensive weapon just in case Sierra was in trouble and continue to search for her.

Dalton had once given her pepper spray for her purse, but she was afraid she’d end up breathing in the fumes herself if she used it. Nor had she wanted to learn how to use a knife or a gun like he’d suggested. Her wits would have to suffice, and so far, they’d served her well.

A solid bookend from the library might serve her purpose. She reentered that room and scanned the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that lined the walls. As she listened to a clock ticking in the background, she heard those faint voices again.

She glanced around for a bookend and spotted a heavy flashlight on one shelf. She lifted the bulky tool and turned on the beam, scouring the shelves. If the house did have hidden passages, this would be a good location for one.

She hesitated when something struck her as peculiar about that panel in the middle. As she splayed her beam back and forth, she noticed it seemed wider than the other sections. Moving closer, she pressed her fingers around the edges, but nothing happened. Then she tilted each book on the shelves one by one.

Would the titles make a difference? She squinted at them, trying to read the faded print. They looked like stories from classic literature.

She’d read some of these titles in school, but none of them struck her as fitting the action-adventure genre. Instinct told her she was onto something, especially when she heard voices murmuring again.

Wait a minute. You have a literature professor in the family. Text Reed for a clue.

She hastily composed her query and sent it off, hoping he was near his phone. Remembering to put hers on silent mode, she paced back and forth while waiting for a response.

A few moments later, she suppressed a whoop of triumph. Reed had responded with just the info she needed.

Oh, man. She could really use a directory to the library. Shivering in the air-conditioning, she went back to studying the book titles and examined the ones nearest the panel that appeared a tad too wide. There! King Solomon’s Mines.

“Reed, you’re a genius.” She tilted the book outward. Immediately, a click sounded, followed by a rumbling noise.

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Dreidels and Dead Ends (Bad Hair Day Mysteries) by Nancy J. Cohen

About Dreidels and Dead Ends

Dreidels and Dead Ends (Bad Hair Day Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 19th in Series
Setting - Florida
Publisher: ‎ Orange Grove Press
Publication Date: ‎ June 23, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 246 pages

A daring holiday heist at the local history museum sends hairstylist Marla Vail on her most tangled case yet. When salon owner Marla Vail agrees to speak at the local history museum’s gala opening for a new exhibit, she expects applause—not a catastrophe. But shortly after she takes the stage, a thief steals the featured diamond-studded hairbrush, leaving behind an empty display case and a badly injured security guard. Marla’s friend, museum curator Becky Forest, begs for her help in recovering the prized heirloom before the mayor uses this scandal as an excuse to cut their funding. To make matters worse, the antique hairbrush comes with a curse, and suddenly bad luck is spreading through town faster than a botched dye job. As Hanukkah festivities begin, Marla would rather be lighting candles than chasing clues, but with Becky’s job at stake, she takes on the case. Her trail leads to a knot of suspects including the hairbrush’s owner, his greedy cousin, shifty museum staff, and a reclusive collector of mystical antiquities. Instead of enjoying menorah lights and latkes, Marla discovers murder, lies, and larceny. She’ll need sharp wits and a holiday miracle to save the museum and to keep the truth from being brushed aside.

About Nancy J. Cohen

 

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and the RONE Award, placed first in the Chanticleer International Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook, have won the FAPA President’s Book Award, the Royal Palm Literary Award, and IAN Book of the Year. When not busy writing, Nancy enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

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A Cyclist's Guide to Poppies & Predicaments - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on an upcoming release. A Cyclist's Guide to Poppies & Predicaments by Ann Claire. This book is the third in the Cyclist's Guide Mystery series and will be released Tuesday.

Blurb: 

Sadie Greene has broken her streak—her crime streak, that is. For months, her bicycle tours through France have been blissfully uneventful, marred only by the occasional punctured tire or crushed croissant. Thus, when Sadie takes on a last-minute booking for a bridal party, she expects love, laughter, and champagne toasts. But more than pre-wedding jitters come along for the ride.

A bossy bride, rowdy party games, and a tagalong stranger threaten to turn Sadie’s carefully planned itinerary into a tour de farce. She can shift gears to keep the bride happy, but she can’t please everyone. A road-rager targets the group. So does a killer. To add to Sadie’s horror, the murder victim is found wearing the bride’s tiara.

Masher of Ceremonies - A Review

 Review

MASHER OF CEREMONIES by Victoria Hamilton
The Thirteenth Vintage Kitchen Mystery 

 

Unwilling to let Queensville's traditional Tea with the Queen die Jaymie Müller is determined to make this year's fundraiser the best ever, even if it kills her! Jaymie's already busy life gets even more chaotic when Nigel, her event partner and new owner of Stowe House, tells her he's being blackmailed and asks for her help. Does the dead body have something to do with the blackmail or is something else going on? Between making sure the Tea with the Queen is a success, dealing with volunteers old and new, including Nigel's entourage, opening her own shop, and caring for her family, Jaymie will also puzzle out just who killed Queensville's latest victim.

 

Jaymie has so much going on in the thirteenth Vintage Kitchen Mystery I don't know when she has time to breathe! I enjoyed reading about her many activities including opening her own shop and tea room with her best friend and seeing her home life, simple acts of cooking a meal and getting her daughter ready for school or watching her play with her cousins. These looks into Jaymie's life give readers a sense of who she is-someone who can organize and solve problems, whether it's where to locate  a vintage kitchenware pattern, how to deal with volunteers, or how to solve a murder!

 

MASHER OF CEREMONIES is a bit different in that the first major problem, aside from reining in was the blackmail situation. We know the identity of the blackmailer, we just don't know what he's capable of. The murder doesn't happen for quite some time and the motive, as well as the killer, is unknown. I like how Jaymie involves the police and asks for advice and help, yet still remains strong and independent. While events move at a slower pace, there are some heart pounding surprises and a few fast paced thrills.

 

With lots of moving parts MASHER OF CEREMONIES is a delightful blend of Michigan summer life and murder. 

Ghost Cat and the Haunted House - A Guest Post & Giveaway

I'm pleased to allow Blaze the cat to take over Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Blaze on the pages of Ghost Cat and the Haunted House by Mollie Hunt. This book is the fourth in the Tenth Life Cozy Mystery series and will be released next week.

Excuse me. Can I say something?

I know you expected an essay from the heroes of Ghost Cat and the Haunted House. Camelia Collins possibly, or the ghost cat Soji herself. But they are busy infusing our author’s mind with stories yet to come. So you get me instead. Hello, I’m Blaze, Camelia’s companion cat.

I may not be a major character in the Tenth Life Cozy Paranormal Mystery Series, but I am important. As a real, flesh-and-blood cat (unlike tricksy Soji), I’ve been with Camelia for as long as I can remember. I am what Camelia calls a senior cat, so that’s a long time.

We lived in a city called Portland before Camelia decided to pick up and move to little Ocean Cove. She’d always dreamed of living on the Oregon Coast, and at the advancing age of seventy-something summers, I suppose she figured it was now or never. I was skeptical at first, hating change as much as the next cat, but I have come to appreciate the fresh air and quiet environment. Camelia loves it, and that counts more than anything, because she is my world. I need her, but she needs me too.

Soji the ghost cat has her moments— (Did I tell you Camelia’s little cottage is haunted? Well, no one told us either, so it was a surprise when the spirit of a cat from the early twentieth century turned up and started talking to us.) —but Soji is unreliable. I, on the other hand, am completely reliable, especially when it comes to mealtimes and naps.

In this newest book, I have an especially large role to play, though to be honest, it wasn’t really my idea. I kept disappearing to somewhere I couldn’t possibly be, like in a locked-room mystery. Only after several of those inexplicable excursions did Camelia discover the reason. It will astound you, I promise!

I also led Camelia to a place she needed to be just in time to prevent something bad from happening, hosted a feline houseguest she brought home unexpectedly, and sat on her lap when she was cold and scared.

I am quietly amazing.

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 Ghost Cat and the Haunted House (A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery) by Mollie Hunt

About Ghost Cat and the Haunted House

Ghost Cat and the Haunted House (A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Cat Mystery 4th in Series
Setting - Ocean Cove, a fictitious town on the Oregon Coast
Independently Published
Print Length: ‎ 277 pages
Publication Date: ‎ June 30, 2026

Ghost cat Soji draws Camelia into an age-old web of secrets when a body turns up in the long-abandoned house on the hill.

Decades ago, Ida Jacks died a tragic death in her old ancestral home. Since then, the place has stood empty, just another of Ocean Cove’s moldering landmarks. Now paranormal investigator Griffin Gage is about to change all that. But Gage’s plan is to contact dead Ida takes a tragic turn when, instead of a spirit, he finds a corpse.

Ghost cat Soji has been acting strange, trying to tell Camelia something, but what, the octogenarian cannot discern. Is it about Ida? The Jacks House? The murder? And why does her own cat Blaze keep disappearing to the guesthouse with no apparent means of transport?

Handsome Sheriff Jamie can’t figure it out, and neither can Camelia’s clairvoyant confidant Vera nor her very special friend Ellery. Camelia is on her own to uncover the killer, but can she solve the mysteries in time to save innocent lives, and maybe a ghost or two?

About Mollie Hunt

 

Long: Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy series: the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries featuring a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, and the Tenth Life Paranormal Mysteries involving a ghost cat. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy presents extraordinary cats saving the world. She also released a COVID memoir she calls, "an ode to the very real and healing presence of cats." Her cat health memoir, “Creating Comfort for Your Senior Cat: Stories, Poems, and Illustrations of Cats in Their Golden Years,” recently won a Certificate of Excellence from the Cat Writers’ Association.

Mollie’s cat writing has earned her various other honors, including CWA Muse Medallions and World’s Best Litter-ary Awards. She is the recipient of the prestigious Michael Brim Distinguished Service Award (CWA) and the Catalyst Council Connect to Care Award, celebrating a true story of the profound connection between a shelter cat and its adoptive pet parent. Her mystery, Cat’s Paw, was a CIBA Mystery & Mayhem Semi-finalist. Mollie is on the Board of Directors for Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA) as well as being the librarian for the Cat Writers’ Association. Additionally, she is a member of Sisters in Crime, Willamette Writers, and the Oregon Writers Colony. Mollie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like her cat lady character, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Short: Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy mystery series and a sci-fantasy tetralogy. She has also published a COVID memoir and a cat health chronicle, both of which won recognition from the Cat Writers’ Association.

Mollie is a member of the Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA), Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and Willamette Writers. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like the cat lady character in one of her cozies, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Author Links: 

You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: https://molliehuntcatwriter.com/  

Follow Mollie's Amazon Page: www.amazon.com/author/molliehunt  

Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/MollieHuntCatWriter/  

Instagram: @molliehuntcatwriter  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7768987.Mollie_Hunt  

Purchase Link - Amazon