Murder at the Majestic Hotel - A Review

 Review

MURDER AT THE MAJESTIC HOTEL by Clara McKenna
The Fourth Stella and Lyndy Mystery

 

It was a very rocky road to marriage, with several dead bodies along the way, but Stella and Lyndy are now happily Vicount and Lady Lyndhurst, thrilled to be on their honeymoon in historic York. Things never run smoothly however, and unbeknownst to them a hotel clerk gave their reserved honeymoon suite to someone else. Forced to accept a room across the hall the couple awake to shrieks of a chambermaid in the hall. She's just discovered the man who usurped their room dead in the Honeymoon Suite. The city's detective is quick to rule it an accidental death so he can get on with preparations for a royal visit, but there are too many unanswered questions for Stella. Could it be murder? In addition to historic rambles and romantic nights, Stella and Lyndy once again ask questions and search for clues looking to solve yet another mystery.

Stella and Lyndy continue to make a delightful couple, better together than they ever were alone. There are more romantic leanings in this fourth Stella and Lyndy Mystery, which is to expected in this, the book centering on their honeymoon. And they are not the only couple in love, for better or worse. Love plays an important role in this story, and not only love for people, but ideals and values.

I love how historic facts are woven into the mystery and I am able to be an armchair tourist of the fascinating city of York. The merging of storylines was also fascinating as I discovered the truth about two very different kinds of cathedral enthusiasts and, thanks to the author's note, facts about Edwardian chocolate!

MURDER AT THE MAJESTIC HOTEL creatively weaves together sinister plots, captivating characters, and historical facts into an engaging mystery. Plenty of action, laughs, and heartfelt moments make this another great addition to this delightful series.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Enemy You Gnocchi by Catherine Bruns. This book is the third in the Italian Chef Mystery series and was released last month.

It's Christmastime in Harvest Park, New York and after a year of grieving the death of her husband Tessa Esposito is ready to start enjoying her favorite holiday again. She has good friends, family, and a successful restaurant where she finds joy cooking Italian dishes. The one fly in her ravioli is newcomer Mario Russo. While maligning nearly every other business is town, Mario is too friendly with Tessa. Trying to forget the man who wormed his way into playing St. Nick at the town's Festival of Lights, Tessa and her friends are enjoying the event when a scream pierces the night. Mario Russo has been stabbed. Knowing her good friend and Mario's main business rival couldn't be guilty Tessa will have to dig a little deeper to find out just who wanted the sleazy Santa dead.

Peril in Paris - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a recent release in a series in which I'm woefully far behind. Peril in Paris by Rhys Bowen is the sixteenth book in the Royal Spyness Mystery series. Today is its release day!

Blurb:

What a delight it is to finally be able to enjoy a simple meal again! I have been in the throes of morning sickness for the last few months as Darcy and I prepare to welcome a brand-new addition to our little family. Now that I am feeling better, I have realized I am dreadfully bored! It seems that all my nearest and dearest are off leading their own busy lives while I sit at home and attempt to train our two adorably naughty puppies. Fun as it may be, it is hard not to long for a little adventure, a change of pace, before my true confinement begins when the baby comes.

Happily, it seems that Darcy has read my mind. When I receive a letter from my glamorous best friend, Belinda, Darcy suggests we take a trip to Paris to visit her. It seems he also has a spot of business of which to take care, so I will be staying in Belinda’s flat as she works feverishly on Coco Chanel’s fall collection. I happen to know Coco from a disastrous encounter in Nice years ago, and I am hoping this visit will go much more smoothly. But I soon learn that nothing about my time in Paris is going to be simple . . . or safe for that matter.

Darcy has asked me to take on a small chore as a part of his latest assignment. I am to covertly retrieve something from an attendee of Coco’s show. It seems easy enough, but I discover that this little errand could have terrifying consequences for a world on the brink of war. When things go horribly wrong, I am left to find a killer all while trying to fend off a French policeman who is certain that I am a criminal mastermind. But I have no plans to deliver my darling little one in a prison cell, and so I will muster every ounce of my courage to save the day . . . and, quite possibly, the world!

A Colorful Scheme - A Spotlight

Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on a book that's on my TBR pile. A Colorful Scheme by Krista Davis is the fourth book in the Pen and Ink Mystery series and was released at the end of August.

Blurb:

After a wedding guest’s murder, Florrie Fox sees a picture taking shape . . .

Coloring-book creator and Washington, DC, bookstore owner Florrie Fox is attending the wedding of her wealthy boss and a famous romance author, who are taking their vows—for the second time—on the grounds of the gorgeous Maxwell mansion.  But it soon becomes clear that the soothing vibe of coloring books is very different from the stress and backstabbing in some corners of the literary world.
 
Arthur Bedlingham, for example, barely makes a living despite the many awards he’s won—and his chances for better sales haven’t been helped by the vicious review he just got from another guest at the party. Then there’s an ex–FBI agent whose popular thrillers are a magnet for female fans; a less-successful romance writer; and an ambitious waitress who’s intent on a career in journalism.
 
When Arthur’s assistant, an aspiring writer, is murdered during the festivities, Florrie realizes this is no color-by-numbers case, and she’ll have to sort out the complicated secrets among this creative crowd of suspects . . .

A Book Club to Die For - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

A BOOK CLUB TO DIE FOR by Dorothy St. James
The Third Beloved Bookroom Mystery

Invited to speak at the exclusive Arete Society Book Club, librarian Trudell Becket knows the night will be a disaster, she just doesn't know how bad it will actually turn out to be. When she agreed to speak to the women about how she's circumventing the no book policy of the town's all electric library, Tru forgot that her boss was a member of the group. The boss who doesn't have an inkling about the secret real book library Tru runs. The excitement of her friend, Flossie, and the rudeness of the book club president have Tru in a state, but the biggest shock comes when she finds the club's president dead in the kitchen. Now her boyfriend's mother is the prime suspect, she's having doubts about Flossie's innocence, her father is missing, and robots have invaded the library! 

The idea of a library without books and a book club that censures you for reading unapproved books is an anathema to me. Fortunately, Tru is of the same mind as are many of the citizens of Cypress. I love how "good girl", rule follower Tru continues to break the rules to share the joy of reading books, whatever the genre. 

In the third Beloved Bookroom mystery we see elitism and literary snobbishness as well as cliques and the desire to belong. Duplicitous behavior makes for a confounding mystery that had me captivated. Subtle clues, and not so subtle ones, provide readers with many aha moments...which in one case led me to think I had it solved...and I did solve something, just not the main thing. Doubts about loved ones amp the anxiety while help from unexpected places eases the tension.

A BOOK CLUB TO DIE FOR is a delightful mystery that captures both the humor and pathos of technology and book clubs. The story and characters engaged me from the start and never let go. I absolutely love this series and can't wait to see what happens next!

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 A Book Club to Die For (A Beloved Bookroom) by Dorothy St. James

About A Book Club to Die For

A Book Club to Die For (A Beloved Bookroom)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - Cypress, South Carolina ‎
Berkley (November 1, 2022)
Hardcover: ‎ 304 pages

When a member of an exclusive book club is checked out, spunky librarian Trudell Becket must sort fact from fiction to solve the murder.

The Cypress Arete Society is one of the town’s oldest and most exclusive clubs. When assistant librarian Trudell Becket is invited to speak to the group about the library, its modernization, and her efforts to bring printed books to the reading public, her friend Flossie invites herself along. Flossie has been on the book club’s waiting list for five years, and she’s determined to find out why she’s never received an invitation to join.

But not long after Tru and Flossie arrive for the meeting, they’re shocked to find the club’s president, Rebecca White, dead in the kitchen. Rebecca was a former TV actress and local celebrity, but was not known for being patient or pleasant. She’d been particularly unkind to the book club’s host for the evening, who also happens to be the mother of Detective Jace Bailey, Tru’s boyfriend. And Rebecca had made it clear that she didn’t think Flossie was book club material.

With her boyfriend and one of her best friends wrapped up in a murder, Tru has to work fast to figure out who cut Rebecca’s story short before the killer takes another victim out of circulation....

About Dorothy St. James

Dorothy St. James is a former Folly Beach beach bum. She now lives in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with her family, slightly (OK, terribly) needy dogs, and the friendliest cat you’ll ever meet. Author of a dozen novels, Dorothy enjoys writing both cozy mysteries and romance.

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Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Book Club to Die For by Dorothy St. James. This book is the third in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery series and was released yesterday.

Invited to speak at the exclusive Arete Society Book Club, librarian Trudell Becket knows the night will be a disaster, she just doesn't know how bad it will actually turn out to be. When she agreed to speak to the women about how she's circumventing the no book policy of the town's all electric library, Tru forgot that her boss was a member of the group. The boss who doesn't have an inkling about the secret real book library Tru runs. The excitement of her friend, Flossie and the rudeness of the book club president have Tru in a state, but the biggest shock comes when she finds the club's president dead in the kitchen. Now her boyfriend's mother is the prime suspect, she's having doubts about Flossie's innocence, her father is missing, and robots have invaded the library! 

It Came Upon a Midnight Shear - A Review & Giveaway

Review

IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT SHEAR by Allie Pleiter
The Third Riverbank Knitting Mystery

This Christmas may be the best ever for Libby Beckett. Not only has she unseated "King" George as Chamber of Commerce President, but she's arranged for Vincenzo Marani and a small herd of vicuña to come to her shop. As a demonstration for Y.A.R.N., the Gallant Herdsman will shear the animals whose coats will be transformed into the most luxurious and expensive yarn. Those perfect Christmas dreams start to crash when those very expensive skeins of yarn start disappearing and Libby's ex-husband arrives in town. A knock on her door isn't Santa bearing gifts, but the sheriff with news of a murder behind her shop. Since almost the entire town heard her threaten him, Libby may be spending Christmas behind bars.

Fiber, pharmaceuticals, theft, and murder. What do they have in common, aside from wreaking havoc with Libby's holiday? As a suspect, she's not able to think through the possibilities with Frank as she's done with previous murders. Forced to ruminate on her own, Libby decides to let her enemies get close, but in doing so she almost makes a fatal mistake. I'm still unsure what made her confront the killer alone. With only a note saying where she went, Libby veered into that too stupid to live mode. However, doing so did prompt movement in her love life, so perhaps something drastic did need to happen.

I appreciate the more serious undertones here on conservation and the problems with pharmaceutical companies in the United States. I also enjoyed the lighter side with the dogs, vicuña, Libby's mother issues and Grant's dad issues, as well as the heart warming scenes of holiday preparations and friends caring for each other.

IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT SHEAR is an intricately plotted mystery filled with cute animals, lush fiber, and a tight knit group of family and friends. Its holiday setting with baked goods nestled in create cozy comfort, so grab a Christmas cookie and snuggle in for an enjoyable read. 

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 It Came upon a Midnight Shear (A Riverbank Knitting Mystery) by Allie Pleiter

About It Came upon a Midnight Shear

It Came upon a Midnight Shear (A Riverbank Knitting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - Maryland
Berkley (November 1, 2022)
Mass Market Paperback: ‎ 304 pages

A murder in her yarn shop’s backyard puts Libby Beckett’s holiday plans on thin ice.…

The holiday season looks merry and bright for Libby and her friends at Y.A.R.N. The store is expanding for a holiday boom, and she’s gathered Collinstown’s businesses to decorate a community Christmas tree. Dashing “Gallant Herdsman” Vincenzo Marani arrives to showcase the rare vicuña, whose coat produces the world’s most luxurious yarn. It’s a perfect yuletide—until Libby’s ex-husband, Sterling, turns up in town…and then turns up dead.

The murder unravels Libby’s life faster than a hand-knit Christmas stocking. The luxe yarn goes missing, Sterling’s domineering family comes to town, and the vicuña attempt an escape. If Libby can’t stitch up a solution to the case, she may be trading in her knitting needles for a set of handcuffs.

About Allie Pleiter

The bestselling author of over fifty titles, Allie Pleiter's twenty-year career has sold 1.6 million books. Allie also coaches on writing productivity and speaks nationally on time management for creatives. Allie is an avid knitter, confirmed coffee junkie and firm believer that “pie makes everything better.” She lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband and the world’s most adorable dog.

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