I'm currently reading Summer Club by Katherine Dean Mazerov. This stand alone thriller was released last year.
Lydia Phillips has volunteered to be president of the Meadow Glen Swim and Tennis Club, a decision she soon regrets. Petty complaints, egotistical board members, unruly children, and now too many odd occurrences. With strange cars, found money, and a body pulled out of the river, Lydia will have to use her former reporter savviness to make it through the summer.
Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book on my TBR pile, The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit by Krista Davis. This book is the fourteen in the Domestic Diva Mystery series and was released May 21, 2021.
Blurb:
With Old Town’s DIY Home Decorating Festival in full swing, Sophie’s
swamped, juggling a bumper crop of artisans, antique dealers, and
decorators for the busy street fair. Still, when her best friend Nina
suddenly needs a ride from the airport, Sophie is happy to help . . .
until she sees Nina disembarking in a state of disarray. It’s obvious
the trip to Portugal soured somewhere along the way. But after one of
Nina’s traveling companions turns up murdered the following day, Sophie
knows something is truly rotten . . .
Though the crime scene
is staged to look like an accident, Sophie isn’t fooled and peels off to
conduct her own investigation. Her only clue is a strange image the
victim scratched into the soil before dying. Could it point to a cryptic
killer in Old Town? A bitter travel adversary? Or a cursed artifact
smuggled back from the trip? As the mystery grows, so does the body
count, and if Sophie doesn’t pluck the murderer soon, her best friend
may be the next to fall . . .
Includes delicious recipes and fabulous DIY decorating tips!
I'm pleased to welcome Allie Pleiter to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Allie writes the Riverbank Knitting Mystery series. ON SKEIN OF DEATH is the first book in the series and was released
Kathy: In ON SKEIN OF DEATH we meet Libby Beckett who has just opened a yarn shop in Maryland. She's excited to share the joys of knitting and crochet. Several years ago I attempted knitting and made lots of scarves-long straight things were as far as I ventured. Now I see all these cute crochet critters and I'm envious of those with that skill. Do you knit or crochet?
AP: Very much so! I’m a passionate knitter and have been for years. Many of my books have knitting characters, so this was a natural extension of my passion for yarn and needles. I’m almost never without my knitting. It’s the perfect counterbalance to all the time I spend staring at a laptop screen and typing. And you get soft and cozy things when you’re done!
Kathy: Libby has an English bulldog, Hank, who sometimes models doggie sweaters. Is Hank based on a real dog? Why choose an English bulldog for his breed?
AP: Yes, some of Hank’s personality comes from my own dog, a small white Lhassa-Poodle mix named Paisley. But Hank has his own nature different from Paisley’s. I loved the jowly, goofy appearance of an English bulldog and Hank represented my chance to “own” one—at least on paper. I did knit one of Perle’s sweaters for my own dog, but alas, Paisley didn’t share Hank’s enthusiasm for modeling.
Kathy: I love the idea of an ever changing name for Libby's yarn shop, Y.A.R.N. It's a clever way to engage customers. How did you get the idea for using an acronym that morphs meaning?
AP: I get so many “how did you come up with that?” questions about my writing. Honestly, I’m never really sure how the ideas generate. The Y.A.R.N. blackboard just popped into my head one day. Of course, now I’ve committed myself to a whole book series of what Y.A.R.N. stands for, so it will be a challenge to come up with all those new versions. Maybe I’ll start asking readers to help me!
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
AP: I love the pairing of an engaging story with the intellectual puzzle of solving a mystery. Characters, community, and relationships are the basis of my romance novels, so this was a way to take those strengths and apply them to a new genre.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
AP: Yes, I have dozens of inspirational romances for Love Inspired. I also have a series of books for writers, and many authors know me for The Chunky Method of productivity for writers.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
AP: All the Riverbank Knitting Mysteries center around yarn shop owner Libby Beckett and her Maryland home town. While knitting will always have a big role in every book, non-knitters will find lots to love in her adventures.
As for inspirational romance, I am finishing up my Wander Canyon series about a small Colorado mountain town next year, and will also be launching a new series set in Arizona called True North Springs. I like to stay busy, as you can see.
You can see information about all my series at https://alliepleiter.com/books/
Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
AP: Of course, it would have to be Libby. She’s reaching for her dreams and starting life over. She’s a skilled knitter who loves to share her passion with others. I love her bravery, her cleverness, her knitting talents, and her fondness for pie (I’m a big fan myself!).
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
AP: No. I knew I wanted to do a series based on a yarn shop, and it just sort of blossomed from that small idea. I’m excited to think of all the places we can go with the Riverbank Knitting Mysteries.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
AP: ON SKEIN OF DEATH is one of over 50 books that I have published, so it was an easy choice to keep up the momentum of the career I enjoy.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
AP: I’d invite Agatha Christie, J.K. Rowling, Diana Gabaldon, and Jane Austen. And of course, there would be lots of pie.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
AP: Dana Mentik’s PINT OF NO RETURN
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
AP: Knitting, knitting, yarn, knitting, and knitting. Oh, and pie. You’ve probably figured that out by now :)
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
AP: Carmel coffee creamer, oatmeal, gluten-free pretzels, and peanut butter.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?
AP: Right now we are confirmed for two more books in the Riverbank Knitting Mysteries series: KNIT OR DYE TRYING will release in February 2022, followed by IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT SHEAR for the 2022 holiday season. Hopefully, there will be many more after that!
Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?
AP: I love that I spend my days dreaming up people who fall in love and people who set things to rights. Creation is a beautiful fuel, and I’m honored to make my living telling stories.
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Review
Libby Beckett is on the edge of major knitting success hosting famous Nordic knitting designer Perle Langager at her shop Y.A.R.N. The three day event will feature talks, demonstrations, and Perle's latest creation-knitting needles with a unique Danish design. Perle seems more nervous in her demands than diva, and Libby willingly helps the young woman. When Perle can't be found, Libby joins in the search only to find the knitter strangled with yarn. Spurned on by a need to find justice for the young woman with such promise, Libby decides to do whatever she can to catch a killer!
Libby Beckett is a smart, take charge woman capable of reinventing herself and able to withstand the challenges brought to her doorstep in the first Riverbank Knitting Mystery. I love her passion for knitting and the desire to spread the love of that art form. And yes, it IS art. She has a best friend who keeps her in pie (I am a bit envious) and, although she'd try to deny it, a good love interest. I like the developing relationship between Libby and Gavin, egged on by her mother and his daughter.
The mystery is ingenious and deftly plotted. Morals and integrity are integral to the characters and the plot shaping behavior and making the murder even more distressing. There's humor and fun as well as a charming dog named Hank!
ON SKEIN OF DEATH with its interesting characters and charming setting is a solid start to a new series. I can't wait to see Libby take on King George in her next adventure!
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On Skein of Death (A Riverbank Knitting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Publisher: Berkley (June 1, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
For Libby Beckett, opening her charming yarn shop, and introducing customers to the joys of knitting and crochet, is the work she was meant to do. Until the yarn she loves is used for murder….
Libby has come home to Collinstown, Maryland to live her dream and open her own yarn shop, aptly named Y.A.R.N., along the Chester River. To Libby, Y.A.R.N. stands for "You're Absolutely Ready Now." But the acronym changes whenever inspiration strikes, and customers add to the list of suggestions that fill the blackboard wall in a shop stuffed with color, fiber, and comfort.
Libby is thrilled when she lands famous Norwegian knitting celebrity Perle Langager for a series of events at Y.A.R.N. Libby's English bulldog, Hank, has been modeling one of Perle's doggie sweaters, and customers just can't wait to see Perle in action. The mayor of Collinstown even decrees a Collinstown Yarn Day to celebrate. But once Perle arrives in town, she seems distracted and on edge. And when she's found strangled with a skein of red yarn, Libby knows she has to solve a knotty mystery before her new life unravels.
An avid knitter, coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four novels at a time. The bestselling author of over fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management for writers. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com to learn more.
Author Links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliepleiterauthor/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/alliepleiter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-pleiter-6a021b139
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alliepleiter
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/alliepleiter/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/453346.Allie_Pleiter
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allie-pleiter
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Allie-Pleiter/e/B001H6IEUO/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1
To subscribe to Allie’s newsletter: http://www.alliepleiter.com/subscribe/
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBound
Review
A ghost who tells stories while enjoying tea and roasting marshmallows, cats doing morning yoga, and rooms that change of their own volition are not out of the ordinary in Destiny Falls. Finding a dead body, sadly, also isn't an anomaly in Destiny Falls. At least not for Hayden. What is unusual is that the dead body in question happens to belong to a man who is already dead. Or at least supposed to be dead. Everything seems to be tied to the illegal ferry operation and the mysterious Gladstone Island. Do the stories that Hayden's new friend tells have anything to do with the murder? Or the mysterious other island? As the investigation continues Hayden soon discovers she and her family remain in danger. Will she find the answers she needs? What does destiny have in store for her?
I want to go to Destiny Falls! Perfect weather and a house that changes to meet your every need? Yes, please. Yet there must always be balance, thus the existence of Gladstone Island. And the current murder. And other nefarious goings on. Many stories weave their way through THE GHOST CAMPER'S TALL TALES, each slowly giving glimpses of a big reveal.
The third Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic book introduces us to two new characters, the ghost and Bear, the chef. I love these new additions as well as the development and growth of the characters we already know. I like how the ghost's stories slowly reveal pertinent information; the past impacting the present. As for the happy chef who makes the scrumptious delicacies for the Caldwells, I wish his hidden kitchen was in my house!
While I don't like cliff hangers, I do like overlapping story arcs as long as the main plot is resolved. By the end of THE GHOST CAMPER'S TALL TALES we know who the murderer is and are in the midst of a happy ending when we get a shocking revelation. It was perfect!
Humor, romance, mysteries, and magick combine in this uniquely charming series. THE GHOST CAMPER'S TALL TALES is a delightful mystery rooted in the love of family.
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A ghost, a witch, a sassy cat, and a mystery. Hayden’s adventures in Destiny Falls continue when a mysterious old man keeps popping up to tell her a series of tall tales. Who is he? And is he actually glowing? Are his stories fiction, or is he telling her the history of her family, the enchanted islands, and the witch? And why did a dead body show up . . . of someone who is already dead? Can Hayden and her brave, quirky sidekick, Latifa unscramble this mystery before someone else turns up dead?
Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and eight other books in the No-Cry Solution series of books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She is also the author of the well-received magical cozy mystery series, The Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic books. She lives in the Pacific Northwest.
Author Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/24811.Elizabeth_Pantley
Website: https://www.nocrysolution.com/books/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethPantleyNoCryAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethpantley/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nocrysolution/_saved/
Blog: https://elizabethpantley.com/
Purchase Link Amazon
I just finished reading The Ghost Camper's Tall Tales by Elizabeth Pantley. This book is the third in the Destiny Falls Mystery and Magic series and was released last week.
A ghost who tells stories while enjoying tea and roasting marshmallows, cats doing morning yoga, and rooms that change of their own volition are not out of the ordinary in Destiny Falls. Finding a dead body, sadly, also isn't an anomaly in Destiny Falls. At least not for Hayden. What is unusual is that the dead body in question happens to belong to a man who is already dead. Or at least supposed to be dead. Everything seems to be tied to the illegal ferry operation and the mysterious Gladstone Island. Do the stories that Hayden's new friend tells have anything to do with the murder? Or the mysterious other island? As the investigation continues Hayden soon discovers she and her family remain in danger. Will she find the answers she needs? What does destiny have in store for her?
I'd like to wish a happy book birthday to Donna Andrews today. Murder Most Fowl is the twenty-ninth book in the Meg Lanslow Mystery series.
Blurb:
Meg Langslow’s in for a busy summer. Her husband is directing a production of Macbeth,
and most of the cast and crew are occupying spare bedrooms in their
house. She also has to keep an eye on Camp Birnam, where a group of
medieval reenactors are commemorating the real-life Macbeth by setting
up what they fondly believe is an authentic medieval Scottish military
camp.
And then there’s Damien Goodwin, a filmmaker who has been
hanging around, trying to document the production. When Goodwin hosts a
showing of some of the footage he’s taken, he manages to embarrass or
offend just about everyone. The next morning Meg isn’t exactly surprised
to find that someone has murdered him.
But who? Some people’s
motives were obvious from the footage: the couple whose affair was
revealed . . . the bombastic leader of the reenactors, who could be
facing years in prison if the evidence from the video helps convict him
of sheep stealing . . . the actress who’s desperately trying to downplay
a health issue that could cost her the role of her life. Other motives
are only hinted at―did the filmmaker have other footage that would
reveal why one of the actors is behaving so furtively?
Unfortunately,
whoever murdered Goodwin also destroyed all the electronic devices on
which his video was stored. So Caerphilly’s chief of police―and Meg―must
rediscover the same secrets the filmmaker did if they want to catch a
killer.
Review
Whitney Dagner has happily left the corporate world behind on mainland California and joined her brother, Nick, and grandparents to run the family business, Nautically Yours, on Santa Catalina Island. When Whit and Nick find the island's man of the year dead in the water, Whit is stunned, but even more perplexed when her brother is brought in for further questioning. Nick barely knew the man...or did he? Although Nick pulled a disappearing act, Jules' wife sure isn't acting like a grieving widow and there are plenty of other people who make better suspects than her brother. With the help of her roommate and her ex-boyfriend Whit vows to get to the bottom of the situation.
Humor suffuses the first Whit and Whiskers Mystery making it a light-hearted fun read. I really like Whitney and wanted to smack her brother on her behalf! Whit is practical, self deprecating, loyal, and a good cat momma. Felix is a complete hunk while Maribel makes the perfect best friend/compatriot. Nick is the annoying little brother who is always getting into trouble, now grown up and in bigger trouble than ever! I absolutely adore Goldy and can picture the sun worshiper tooling around in her high heels giving out sage advice, as long as it doesn't take too much time away from her sun bathing.
The mystery is intriguing with plenty of interesting suspects, including Nick! I like how Whitney went about trying to solve the murder, with plenty of self doubt and no expertise. This made it much more believable and made her that much more likable.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NAUTICALING is a breezy island mystery with great characters and a wonderful setting.
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Whitney Dagner is your tour guide to a Pacific paradise that’s to die for—only to find it’s a place people are also willing to kill for—in Gabby Allan’s Much Ado About Nauticaling, first in the Whit and Whiskers Mystery series.
After far too many years in the Los Angeles corporate world, Whitney Dagner has come home to Santa Catalina Island off the California coast to help her brother Nick run Nautically Yours, the family tourism business. Between gift shop shifts selling all manner of T-shirts and tchotchkes and keeping her feline Whiskers in fine fettle, she pilots the Sea Bounder, a glass bottom boat showing tourists the underwater sights of aquatic plants, marine life—and a murder victim?
The self-proclaimed “Master of the Island,” Jules Tisdale was a wealthy man with business interests throughout Catalina who was about to be honored as Person of the Year before someone strangled him with his own tie and tossed his body into the water. That someone appears to be Nick, who had a raw deal from Jules and no alibi the night of his murder. To clear her brother’s name, Whit will have to investigate Jules’ shady associates and not exactly grief-stricken family members—with the unwelcome help of Felix Ramirez, police diver and Whit’s ex-boyfriend who’s looking to rekindle their relationship.
After writing plays for her friends to act out as a kid, bad poetry in high school, and her high school Alma Mater song, GABBY ALLAN finally found her true passion—cozy mysteries. Being able to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time, and touch people’s hearts with her down-to-earth characters makes for the best job ever. This California girl now lives with her husband, daughter, and two insane dogs in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel.
Author Links:
Website - http://www.gabbyallan.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GabbyAllanAuthor
Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Google Play - IndieBound -
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The author is graciously gifting a copy of the book to one reader. Simply comment on this post telling us what most interests you about this mystery. Leave your comment no later than 11:59 Monday, August 2, 2021 along with an e-mail address. Sorry US addresses only.
