Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Troubled Water by Kassandra Lamb. This book is the first in the Aging Ain't for Wimps Mystery series and was released last month.

Amy Parker's seventy-first birthday was off to a good start. Her husband, Charles, had given her a new dishwasher and was going to prepare her a steak dinner, even though she would have preferred shrimp. Unfortunately, her birthday dinner never happened as Charles never woke up from his nap. While his death was bad enough, even worse was the arrival of her bossy older sister, Clara, laden down with baggage and her cat! Before Amy could wring Clara's neck she found her dead body. And this time, it wasn't natural causes. Not too many people would shed a tear over Clara's death, but who would actually want to kill her? With two funerals to plan, an unexpected visitor who could change everything she thought about the past, and someone trying to kill her, Amy's seventy-first year is off to one heck of a start!

A Delicious Deception - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

A DELICIOUS DECEPTION by Lucy Burdette
The Sixteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery 

When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers appears at the doorway of Hayley and Nathan's new home asking for a favor Hayley is surprised and her husband is furious. Darcy wants the very pregnant Hayley to bring a young woman to the county's safe exchange place to pick up her daughter. The neutral location is also home to the county jail,with an animal farm open to the public and video surveillance so while Nathan is upset, Hayley is happy to help. After all, with all of those precautions already in place, plus Darcy nearby, what could go wrong? Quite a lot as Reba, the young woman, disappears, the husband is murdered, and the little girl goes missing. Will Nathan have an aneurysm before murdering Darcey? Will Hayley solve the murder before giving birth? Grab some fresh Key West eats and find out! 

Just about everything that could go wrong does in this, the sixteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery. Aside from the custodial transfer that backfired, construction on Hayley's new home has stalled and she and "the old ladies" are missing their lives on Houseboat Row. Not to mention two things near the end of the book that I won't say for spoilers sake. I like how the very pregnant Hayley was not taking any nonsense from anyone and was determined to bring matters to a close while keeping herself well fed.

Descriptions of Key West and the various food offerings had me feeling the ocean breeze and wishing I could enjoy a meal with Hayley and the gang. The mystery was well plotted with lots of nasty suspects and suspicious behavior. Unrelated to the mystery the author made two major choices that I found interesting and wonder the reason for them.

Concepts of home and family together with the uniqueness that is Key West make A DELICIOUS DECEPTION a mystery you won't want to miss.

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 The Mango Murders & A Delicious Deception Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette

About A Delicious Deception

A Delicious Deception: A Key West Food Critic Mystery
Cozy Mystery 16th in Series
Setting - Florida
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date: ‎ July 14, 2026
Language: ‎ English
Print length: ‎ 320 pages

Mother-to-be Hayley Snow bites off more than she can chew in the sixteenth installment of Lucy Burdette’s USA Today bestselling Key West Food Critic mysteries.

When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers asks Hayley for a small favor, she can’t say no. Nine months pregnant and temporarily benched from her food critic duties, Hayley’s itching for a distraction and eager to help. All she has to do is tag along while a young woman picks up her daughter from her father at Monroe County’s safe custody exchange location. Easy, right?

Wrong.

In the chaos of the Sheriff’s Office open house, the mother disappears. Then the father bolts, leaving Hayley with a terrified girl and the realization that something has gone terribly wrong. Hayley and Deputy Rogers head north up the Keys to search for answers.

When a body turns up, Hayley realizes this isn’t just a missing-persons case—it’s a race against time. With the little girl’s safety at risk, Hayley must trust her instincts—and her heart—to uncover the truth.

About Lucy Burdette

Clinical psychologist Lucy Burdette writes the USA Today best-selling Key West food critic mysteries, a cozy, culinary mystery series starring food critic Hayley Snow, including #16, A DELICIOUS DECEPTION. A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS, won the Florida Book Award's gold medal for popular fiction. Both the 12th book in the series, A DISH TO DIE FOR, and the 10th, THE KEY LIME CRIME, won the bronze medal for popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards. Lucy's first women's fiction title, THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS, came out in July 2023.

As Roberta Isleib, she wrote the golf lover's mystery series (SIX STROKES UNDER) and the advice column mysteries (DEADLY ADVICE.) Lucy loves using her psychology background in her stories. She also loves to cook and to eat and to talk and write and read about food. She blogs with the wonderful crime fiction writers at Jungle Red Writers, and shares recipes and stories with twelve other cozy mystery writers at Mystery Lovers Kitchen.

Lucy's books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She's a past president of both Sisters in Crime and the Friends of the Key West library.

Author Links: 

Website https://lucyburdette.com  

Facebook https://facebook.com/LucyBurdette  

Instagram instagram.com/LucyBurdette 

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucy-burdette   

Purchase Links - A Deadly Deception - Amazon - B&N - PenguinRandomHouse

The Mango Murders - A Review & Giveaway

Today I thought I'd repost my review of THE MANGO MURDERS by Lucy Burdette in honor of the paperback release this week, along with a new giveaway. Tomorrow you can read my review of the Sixteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery, A DEADLY DECEPTION.

THE MANGO MURDERS by Lucy Burdette
The Fifteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery 

In order to boost Key Zest's popularity and sales the e-zine has rented a Hemingway lookalike yacht to take Key West movers and shakers on an evening cruise. With Hayley Snow's mom providing the catering it's sure to be a delectable good time. But before anyone can even sample the shrimp fritters an explosion tosses everyone overboard! Was it an accident or sabotage? Does someone want Key Zest to fail? Or Perhaps Janet's catering company is the target? Or could someone have it out for Hayley herself? Between the multiple 85th birthday celebrations for Miss Gloria Hayley will try to figure out just what happened and why, despite her detective husband's desire for her to leave it to the police.

The mystery in the fifteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery is an intriguing maze of possibilities and clues. Without being certain of the intended victim, how can Hayley and her friends figure out the culprit? Is the reason food related, political, or even more personal?  Rest assured, Hayley investigates all possibilities.  

I relish the love shown to Miss Gloria in celebration of her 85th birthday. I've had issues with her sons since the first book in the series, but this shows how their wives are decidedly worse! What horrible people, shown even more ugly by the goodness of the Miss Gloria's chosen family.

THE MANGO MURDERS is a delicious mystery fueled by inquisitiveness, tolerance, and love. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the next one.

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 The Mango Murders & A Delicious Deception Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette

About The Mango Murders

Now Available in Paperback

The Mango Murders: A Key West Food Critic Mystery
Cozy Mystery 15th in Series
Setting - Florida
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: ‎ August 12, 2025
Print Length: ‎ 288 pages
Paperback Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: ‎ July 7, 2026
Print Length: ‎ 288 pages

The turquoise waters of Key West are stained with pink in this explosive 15th installment of the Key West Food Critic mysteries from USA Today bestselling author Lucy Burdette.

Food critic Hayley Snow’s employer, Key Zest, is throwing the event of the season, a lavish cocktail party catered by Janet Snow, Hayley’s mother. As Hayley boards the luxurious cruise, she anticipates a smooth sailing soirée filled with shimmering cocktails, mouthwatering mango-infused delicacies, and new supporters for the e-zine. But as the boat sets sail, the festivities take a tragic turn when an explosion rocks the vessel, plunging the party guests into chaos.

In the days that follow, Hayley learns that a local culinary entrepreneur died in the explosion and it was no accident–someone on board had a deadly agenda. With the tropical city of Key West as her backdrop, Hayley navigates a web of secrets and lies. Her investigation takes her from the shadowy corners of island politics to fierce competition between high-end event caterers and personal vendettas.

With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Hayley must rely on her keen intuition to unmask a cunning culprit before they strike again.

About Lucy Burdette

Clinical psychologist Lucy Burdette writes the USA Today best-selling Key West food critic mysteries, a cozy, culinary mystery series starring food critic Hayley Snow, including #16, A DELICIOUS DECEPTION. A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS, won the Florida Book Award's gold medal for popular fiction. Both the 12th book in the series, A DISH TO DIE FOR, and the 10th, THE KEY LIME CRIME, won the bronze medal for popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards. Lucy's first women's fiction title, THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS, came out in July 2023.

As Roberta Isleib, she wrote the golf lover's mystery series (SIX STROKES UNDER) and the advice column mysteries (DEADLY ADVICE.) Lucy loves using her psychology background in her stories. She also loves to cook and to eat and to talk and write and read about food. She blogs with the wonderful crime fiction writers at Jungle Red Writers, and shares recipes and stories with twelve other cozy mystery writers at Mystery Lovers Kitchen.

Lucy's books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She's a past president of both Sisters in Crime and the Friends of the Key West library.

Author Links: 

Website https://lucyburdette.com  

Facebook https://facebook.com/LucyBurdette 

 Instagram instagram.com/LucyBurdette  

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lucy-burdette  

Purchase Links - The Mango Murders - Amazon - B&N - PenguinRandomHouse

Currently Reading...

I just finished reading A Delicious Deception by Lucy Burdette. This book is the sixteenth in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series and will be released next week.

When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers appears at the doorway of Hayley and Nathan's new home asking for a favor Hayley is surprised and her husband is furious. Darcy wants the very pregnant Hayley to bring a young woman to the county's safe exchange place to pick up her daughter. The neutral location is also home to the county jail,with an animal farm open to the public and video surveillance so while Nathan is upset, Hayley is happy to help. After all, with all of those precautions already in place, plus Darcy nearby, what could go wrong? Quite a lot as Reba, the young woman disappears, the husband is murdered, and the little girl goes missing. Will Nathan have an aneurysm before murdering Darcey? Will Hayley solve the murder before giving birth? Grab some fresh Key West eats and find out!

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.

 **************************************************************

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.

Author Links

Website Blog Facebook Twitter / X LinkedIn Instagram BookBub Pinterest Goodreads YouTube

Add to Your TBR Wish List: Goodreads BookBub

Purchase Links - Universal Link - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org - Apple - Google Play

Dying to Live Here - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome  Shelley Marsh to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Shelley writes the Estate Sale Mystery series. DYING TO LIVE HERE is the first book in the series and today is its release day!

Kathy: In DYING TO LIVE HERE, we meet Emma Stewart, a tech burnout who decides to view a quaint beachside home in Harbor Shores, Florida. Is this the type of home you'd choose?

SM: Absolutely. I live within walking distance of the beach, and that’s a big part of why the setting felt so natural to me. 

Kathy: Emma is soon confronted with the death of the former HOA president. Personally, you couldn't pay me to live in a place with an HOA. Have you ever lived with one? Did that experience lead you to murder? At least fictionally. 

SM: I do live in an HOA community, but I didn’t really consider what that would entail until I’d moved in. If I had it to do over again, I might choose differently. A couple of years after moving here, a neighbor convinced me to join the HOA board of directors, and it was an eye-opening experience. I often joke that I was concocting fictional murders in my head during long, boring meetings. 

Kathy: Emma has a dry wit, a talent for digital sleuthing, and an adorable bulldog named Hopper. Do you possess any of these? 

SM: All except for the bulldog. I have a shih-tzu/poodle mix named Zoe. 

Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries? 

SM: I love the humor, but the appealing settings and quirky characters are what kept me coming back. 

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

SM: I stick to mystery for the most part, but I do write other subgenres. I have an eco-mystery coming out in October called Up the Creek. 

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

SM: It’s a funny Florida mystery about friendship and what happens when neighborhood politics turn deadly, all set against the backdrop of estate sales and a beachside community.

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

SM: The romantic lead, Sam. He’s a charmer. I picture him looking like the actor Glen Powell, with an accent like Matthew McConaughey. He’s so patient with Emma, even when she shies away from commitment. 

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

SM:  Mary Kay Andrews’ books, Savannah Blues and Savannah Breeze, inspired me to write about best friends. I wanted to explore the kind of friendship that forms at a pivotal moment in the characters’ lives and lasts even when people change and mature.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

SM: An instructor in a writing workshop encouraged me to pursue traditional publishing for this book. It turned out to be a long and sometimes challenging process, but I’m proud that I persisted.

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

SM: Carl Hiassen and Dave Barry would keep us laughing with their Florida-man stories.

Dorothy Parker and Nora Ephron would keep the conversation lively with their sharp-witted humor. 


Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

SM: The Slow Horses series by Mick Herron

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

SM: I love to walk or bike on the beach. I also enjoy crocheting, and I make amigurumi (stuffed crocheted critters).

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

SM: I have an entire drawer dedicated to cheese (doesn’t everyone?). Other than that, I almost always have canned sparkling water, 5-10 containers of Greek yogurt, and a bottle of Peruvian Gold sauce from Angie’s Subs in Jacksonville Beach.

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

SM: The Estate Sale Mysteries will be released in rapid succession, so readers won’t have to wait long to find out what trouble Emma and Laura get into next! Book two, MORE THAN SHE BARGAINED FOR, comes out on March 25, and book three, EVERYTHING MUST GO, comes out on May 5.
 

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

SM: Seeing my work in print. A few years ago, while browsing a used bookstore, I noticed that many of my favorite books had creased, cracked spines from frequent reading. I thought, “Someday, I want one of my books to have a spine like that.”

**********************************************************************

Review

DYING TO LIVE HERE by Shelley Marsh
The First Estate Sale Mystery 

Emma Stewart and Laura have been best friends since college and Laura would kill to have Emma move even closer to her. Houses rarely come available in her community of Harbor Shores so when her elderly neighbor dies, Laura persuades Emma to visit that house that night so she can put in a bid. After all, Laura has a key, so what could go wrong? Plenty. As Laura opens the door she stumbles and falls into a dead body! With Laura as the prime suspect it doesn't take much to convince Emma to help find the real killer. Almost everyone hated the victim, but who actually killed her? With help from Laura's neighbor, who also happens to be a good looking lawyer, they'll search for clues and suss out suspects before Laura finds herself behind bars for good.

Best friends always have your back, whether it's against murder charges, Mother Nature, or a killer! I really enjoyed my first trip to Harbor Shores, though it reinforces my stance that you couldn't pay me to live in a community with a home owners association! Or in Florida! The setting was fun with plenty of quirky characters, most of whom make good suspects. I really liked Bina and Hopper.

There's quite a lot of romance in the first Estate Sale Mystery. In fact, I'd say there was just as much romance as mystery. Personally I enjoyed it as it felt relevant and natural to the story. I did think that things progressed a bit too quickly, but maybe because I like the romance in my mysteries more drawn out. This felt more like a romance in a romance novel. 

Friendship, romance, and excitement mingle in DYING TO LIVE HERE creating a solid start to a new series.

**************************************************************** 

 Dying to Live Here (Estate Sales Mysteries) by Shelley Marsh

About Dying to Live Here

Dying to Live Here (Estate Sales Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Florida
Publisher: ‎ Fawkes Press
Publication Date: ‎ February 10, 2026

When tech burnout Emma Stewart follows her best friend’s advice to view a quaint beachside home in Harbor Shores, Florida, she expects palm trees, sea breezes, and maybe a fresh start. What she doesn't expect is to stumble into a murder scene—and become a prime suspect.

With the HOA president lying in a pool of blood and her bestie splattered with the evidence, Emma suddenly finds herself knee-deep in neighborhood secrets, rivalries, and a suspiciously missing knife. Armed with nothing but her dry wit, a talent for digital sleuthing, and an adorable bulldog named Hopper, Emma must navigate a world of nosy neighbors, passive-aggressive happy hours, and one dangerously charming lawyer.

In Harbor Shores, the homes are charming—but the secrets are deadly.

About Shelley Marsh

Shelley Marsh writes laugh-out-loud mysteries set along Florida’s sun-splashed coast. Her forthcoming debut, Dying to Live Here (Feb 10 2026), launches the Estate Sale Mysteries series, pairing clever puzzles with a hint of romance. When she isn’t prowling estate sales for story fodder, Shelley combs beaches and bookstores, searching for treasure.

Website: www.ShelleyMarsh.com  

Press Kit: https://writershelleymarsh.com/press-kit/  

Facebook: Author Shelley Marsh  

Instagram: A1ABeachWriter https://www.instagram.com/a1abeachwriter/  

X: https://x.com/shellmarsh  

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@BookTokBelle  

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@A1ABeachWriter  

BlueSky: @shelleymarsh.bsky.social  

Purchase Link - Amazon

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Tides, Lies, and Alibis by Taffy Beach . This book is the first in the Manatee Bay Cozy Mystery series and will be released May 4, 2026.

The 1998 Spring Berry Festival in underway and in order to help her best friend Kathleen Wade MacGregor is delivering Cindy's famous cream puffs to local businesses. Dropping off her final delivery at the Athens diner Kate runs into the repugnant Alexander Mudd, local principal, slob, and sleaze. When Mudd winds up dead, apparently poisoned, it appears that one of Cindy's cream puffs is to blame. A police chief with a grudge has Kate determined to investigate before the High Tides Bakery and Café is forced out of business. But while Kate prefers to work alone, her friends and family are bound and determined to help 

The Mango Murders - A Review

 Review

 

THE MANGO MURDERS by Lucy Burdette
The Fifteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery 

In order to boost Key Zest's popularity and sales the e-zine has rented a Hemingway lookalike yacht to take Key West movers and shakers on an evening cruise. With Hayley Snow's mom providing the catering it's sure to be a delectable good time. But before anyone can even sample the shrimp fritters an explosion tosses everyone overboard! Was it an accident or sabotage? Does someone want Key Zest to fail? Or Perhaps Janet's catering company is the target? Or could someone have it out for Hayley herself? Between the multiple 85th birthday celebrations for Miss Gloria Hayley will try to figure out just what happened and why, despite her detective husband's desire for her to leave it to the police.

The mystery in the fifteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery is an intriguing maze of possibilities and clues. Without being certain of the intended victim, how can Hayley and her friends figure out the culprit? Is the reason food related, political, or even more personal?  Rest assured, Hayley investigates all possibilities.  

I relish the love shown to Miss Gloria in celebration of her 85th birthday. I've had issues with her sons since the first book in the series, but this shows how their wives are decidedly worse! What horrible people, shown even more ugly by the goodness of the Miss Gloria's chosen family.

THE MANGO MURDERS is a delicious mystery fueled by inquisitiveness, tolerance, and love. I can't wait to sink my teeth into the next one. 

Home Fries and Alibis - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

HOME FRIES AND ALIBIS by Lena Gregory

The Eighth All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery

 

Life in Central Florida is agreeing with Gia Morelli. She owns the popular All-Day Breakfast Café and has a dynamic group of friends as well as a fiancé who loves her. She has a wonderful home in a peaceful neighborhood. She's even getting used to the bears, raccoons, snakes, and other critters that live nearby. What she can't get used to is her new neighbor.  The once idyllic community has been shattered by the arrival of Gladys Hoffmeier. Gladys is nasty, belligerent, and has called 911 on her neighbors so many times she's been banned. But she crosses the line when she descends on Gia's home accusing Thor, Gia's Bernese mountain dog, of digging in her yard. Gia manages to control her temper until Gladys threatens to shoot Thor. The following morning Gladys is found dead. Pretty much everyone who met the woman had a reason to want her dead, but who actually did the deed? 

 

Emotions run high in the eighth All-Day Breakfast Café. Gia is a better person than I. If someone threatened my animals and wound up dead I'd be satisfied and ready to dance on that person's grave. Gia and Savannah actually feel bad, wanting the woman gone, but not dead, and are ready to figure out just who killed her.

 

HOME FRIES AND ALIBIS is a well plotted mystery with no end of suspects and a wide range of motives, a list made even longer when blackmail comes to light. There are thrilling, pulse pounding moments. There are also quiet contemplative moments and moments of fun. 

 

The characters are the heart of the story. Gia and Savannah's friendship so close as to be family. Leo and Hunt, Cole and Earl, Alfie's exuberance, I could go on. The people are more than characters on a page. They're people you want to make a part of your life. 

 

With a heartwarming sense of community HOME FRIES AND ALIBIS is a cozy hug in book form.

 

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 Home Fries and Alibis (An All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery) by Lena Gregory

About Home Fries and Alibis

Home Fries and Alibis (An All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 8th in Series 

Setting - Florida 
Publisher: ‎ Beyond the Page Publishing 
Publication Date: ‎ September 23, 2025 
Print Length: ‎ 178 pages

When a belligerent woman moves in across the street, café owner Gia Morelli has to call off the welcome wagon and call in the homicide squad . . .

When a nasty new neighbor moves into their peaceful community, Gia and everyone else in the neighborhood is ready to blow a fuse. The spiteful woman has quickly made a nuisance of herself, complaining to and about everyone there. Then she makes the grave mistake of falsely claiming Gia’s dog tore up her yard, and Gia goes ballistic, telling the woman to back off . . . or else. It was an impulsive move for Gia, but someone else decides an even more extreme approach is called for, and silences the woman—permanently.

Unnerved by the thought of a murderer living in her neighborhood, Gia begins digging into the victim’s life to figure out who would have wanted her dead. She soon discovers that the woman was not only malicious but was blackmailing people in the community. Even more surprising is that nearly everyone in the neighborhood has something to hide. Dead-set on rooting out the culprit, Gia has to determine who stood to lose the most if their secret was revealed, unaware that she’s perilously close to losing her own life . . .

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/
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• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts
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Murder Pays a Call - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Nancy J. Cohen to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Nancy writes the Keri Armstrong Mystery series. MURDER PAYS A CALL is the first book in the series and was released Earlier this month.

Kathy: You start a new series with MURDER PAYS A CALL. What led you to create the Keri Armstrong Mystery series?

NJC: I wanted to do something different from my long-running series, the Bad Hair Day Mysteries. Keri appealed to me, and so did the Central Florida locale now that I live here. I can explore new places and have new adventures in the name of research. 


Kathy: Keri is a personal concierge. Heaven knows I could use one! What made you choose this career for your protagonist? 

NJC: LOL! I could use one, too! That’s why I chose her career. We could all use the help if we could afford it. In this role Keri can take on any job in any setting, which is a great setup for a sleuth. Her tasks vary as much as her clients. She has lots of connections around town, too, which will help with her investigations. 


Kathy: The victim, and Keri's favorite client, left behind a trail of frenemies. Did you, or do you, have what could be considered frenemies? Or anyone who’d happily skip your memorial brunch? 

NJC: I’ve fallen out with a few friends in the past. I was probably more upset by the breakups than they were. You learn who’s a true friend when people turn away from you for unclear or minor reasons. 


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries? 

NJC: I liked the humor and the puny titles, the lighthearted approach, the focus on relationships rather than forensics, and the touch of romance. These are what I try to put into my books as well. Readers expect a certain type of read when they pick up a cozy, and so do I. 


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres? 

NJC: I started out writing sci-fi/fantasy romance and have published eight books in that genre. This includes my Light-Years and Drift Lords series and a couple of standalones. I also wrote two nonfiction titles, WRITING THE COZY MYSTERY and A BAD HAIR DAY COOKBOOK.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

NJC: In the Keri Armstrong series, Keri is a personal concierge who will accept almost any job to help make a person’s life easier. She genuinely cares about her clients, even when it comes to solving murders to ensure they receive due respect. These stories take place in Central Florida.

The Bad Hair Day Mysteries feature hairstylist Marla Vail, who solves crimes in between cutting and coloring her clients’ hair at the salon she owns in sunny South Florida. Starting out as a divorcee, she evolves into a married woman again over the course of this 18-book series. Marla has the skills and courage that I wish I had.

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

NJC: In regard to Keri’s life, I’d like to meet her best friends, Lora and Pam. They are loyal and supportive, which are the kind of besties we all want to have. Lora tends to be more emotional while Pam, a reporter, is more pragmatic. They help Keri with her crime-solving activities.


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

NJC: I came across mention of a personal concierge and thought it would be a great occupation for a sleuth. This role puts her into contact with a variety of customers in different settings. She has to be a good problem-solver as well being able to take care of last-minute glitches that arise with her clients. So, she has to think fast on her feet.

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work? 

NJC: I like to share my stories with readers and give them a few hours of pleasant escape. If you want serious topics, watch the news. Otherwise, pick up one of my books for a fun, light read.

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

NJC: Shakespeare, Jane Austin, Barbara Cartland, and Agatha Christie.

Kathy: What are you currently reading? 

NJC: FLAMED OUT by Valona Jones, ROCKY ROAD TO RUIN by Meri Allen, and TO THE EASTERN SEAS by Julian Stockwin.

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

NJC: Reading, watching TV (I’m partial to the Hallmark Channel and to period dramas), cruising, dining out, and visiting Disney World.

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

NJC: Pantry – Peanut Butter Crackers, Cheez-Its, Trail Mix and Protein Bars - Good snacks for power outages after a storm.

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

NJC: Yes. I am currently polishing Book #19 in the Bad Hair Day Mysteries titled HANUKKAH HAIRLOOM MYSTERY. Then I’ll have a new audiobook release of WRITING THE COZY MYSTERY. Once these are done, I will begin work on Keri title #2, tentatively titled MURDER AT THE MUSICAL. 

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

NJC: I love hearing from readers. When they ask when my next book is coming out, it makes my day. I am happy that my work is meaningful and that my stories make people smile. 

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Review

MURDER PAYS A CALL by Nancy J. Cohen
The First Keri Armstrong Mystery 

Running a personal concierge service Keri Armstrong helps a variety of people get things done. Whether it's simply spending time with someone in a nursing home, making travel arrangements, picking up groceries, or planning parties and events Keri and her employees do it all! Keri is looking forward to spending the morning chatting over tea and strudel with Fiona, her favorite client. She's curious as the day before Fiona said she wanted to discuss something with her, but refused to share any details over the phone. However, when Keri arrives the front door is unlocked, the house quiet. When Keri's calls go unanswered she heads upstairs only to find Fiona dead, her room in a shambles. While Keri is distraught, seeing Fiona as a friend and mentor as well as a client, she soon learns that others were not so fond of the woman, a woman who apparently held more than her share of secrets. As the police begin to investigate Keri starts to wonder who could have killed Fiona and why now, a week before her eightieth birthday, while also hoping the police don't find her a plausible suspect.

I really enjoyed the first Keri Armstrong Mystery. Keri is smart, helpful, and has an open mind. She's able to realize she may have been mistaken, even about her friend Fiona. We didn't get to learn too much about her employees, especially Staz. Purdy's social life gave me a giggle and I hope to discover more about these two in future books. I found Lora to be a bit annoying, but I liked Pam and I really enjoyed the friendship these three women share.

Nefarious dealings and red herrings added interest and complexity to the mystery. It was fascinating learning more about the various suspects and watching as various schemes started to unravel.

Strong characters and an intriguing mystery make MURDER PAYS A CALL a great start to a new series.

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 Murder Pays a Call: A Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery by Nancy J Cohen

About Murder Pays A Call

Murder Pays a Call: A Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 
Setting - Florida 
Publisher: ‎ Orange Grove Press 
Publication Date: ‎ September 9, 2025 
Print Length: ‎ 290 pages

Personal concierge Keri Armstrong will accept almost any job, but solving murders wasn’t on her to-do list—until now.

When personal concierge Keri Armstrong swings by her favorite client’s mansion to drop off groceries, she expects a heartfelt chat along with a cup of tea—not Fiona Sullivan dead in bed and her room ransacked. Though police chalk it up to a botched robbery, Keri isn’t so sure. Whispers around town suggest Fiona wasn’t as adored as Keri had believed, and many of the philanthropist’s so-called friends in affluent Sunny Grove, Florida seem glad she’s gone.

Keri refuses to let Fiona’s memory be reduced to malicious gossip. Armed with a keen eye, insider access, and a fully charged tablet, she sets out to uncover the truth. Soon her file of suspects grows faster than her to-do list. Between sneaky neighbors, resentful relatives, and tight-lipped charity board members, Fiona left behind a trail of frenemies who’d happily skip her memorial brunch.

As Keri digs deeper, she discovers her late mentor had a gift for extracting people’s secrets and using them like fine china—carefully storing them until they could serve a purpose. But Fiona also kept a few skeletons in her own walk-in closet. Now, with danger creeping closer, Keri must race to crack the case before her number comes up next… and Murder Pays a Call.

“A page-turner of a mystery from one of my favorite authors. Cohen’s deft mastery of the cozy genre shines through in every scene, delighting readers with another engrossing whodunit.” Muddy Rose Reviews “Fans of award-winning author Nancy J. Cohen’s long-running Bad Hair Day Mysteries will be thrilled to learn there’s a new sleuth in town. Murder Pays a Call is the debut book in her Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery Series featuring a personal concierge who adds solving murders to the services she offers her clients.” – Lois Winston, author of the bestselling and award-winning Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries.

About Nancy J. Cohen

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail and the Keri Armstrong cozy mysteries. Her books have won numerous awards including her nonfiction titles, Writing the Cozy Mystery and A Bad Hair Day Cookbook. Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World.

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