Death in Cold Waters

Thank you to author Tannis Laidlaw and The Cozy Mystery Review Crew for the gifted copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Synopsis

The first book in the new Madeleine Brooks Mystery series!

Madeleine Brooks, Senior Probation Officer, is having problems at work with a boss who is threatened by Maddie’s competence. And now one of her long-term probation clients has been returned to prison on suspicion of murdering a child, the details of which have strong similarities with his original crime. Maddie doesn’t believe it and worries the police are not looking for anyone else.

When Maddie is suspended by her revengeful boss, she finds herself with time and energies she can put to good use. What if her client was innocent of the crime for which he was convicted years ago, just as he has always maintained? This would have implications about the present murder. When Maddie’s teenaged daughter becomes involved, things spiral down.

Has Maddie compromised her own family?

Review

Tannis Laidlaw is another new to me author and I was excited to read the first book in her Madeline Brooks Mystery Series. Death in Cold Waters was a quick and easy read, that kept you guessing until the very end. Death in Cold Waters was full of twists and turns that I did not see coming, and each one of them left me questioning the “who done it” that I developed in my head. Each time I thought I had it all figured out, another twist would be added, and I had to go back to the beginning of the clues to put another guess together. I enjoyed each of the characters created by Tannis Laidlaw, especially Maddie. Maddie’s character of the smart, quick-thinking probation officer made the story what it was. As I read, I could picture this wonderful, charismatic character in each step she took, and each move she made to solve the mystery. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series!

About the Author

Dr Tannis Laidlaw has worn many hats in her career as a psychologist: clinician in private practice, in psychiatric bins and in the prison service; researcher in schizophrenia, anxiety, psychopathy and other personality disorders, mind-body interactions, and the therapeutic use of hypnosis; research manager; writer and lecturer.

She has always been fascinated by the human condition, not only in those with crossed wiring but also when ordinary people are driven to behave in extraordinary ways. Her fiction reflects her psychological background; her non-fiction, her interests as a wife, mother and friend.

Tannis lives with her husband in Auckland, but spends half her time at a deserted beach in Northland, the semi-tropical northern part of New Zealand, and in a remote cabin in the woods on a Canadian lake – all places where she writes and writes and writes.

What the Hatmaker Heard

Thank you to author Sandra Bretting and the Cozy Mystery Review Crew for the gifted copy of What the Hatmaker Heard. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Synopsis

When a groom gets murdered, Louisiana hat maker Missy DuBois must look behind a veil of secrets on a former sugar plantation . . .

Bride-to-be Lorelei Honeycutt is brimming with excitement over the elaborate headpiece Missy has created for her wedding but fears she won’t be able to maintain her balance when she walks down the aisle. She’s asked Missy to assist her during the rehearsal at Honeycutt Hall, a once grand sugar plantation now used as the family’s home. Missy’s trying to keep a cool head herself, as her own wedding is coming up in three short weeks on the Riverboat Queen. But after the rehearsal, she overhears the bride and groom quarreling. The next morning, Wesley Carmichael is missing. After searching the house and grounds, Missy discovers the groom lying at the bottom of an old, unused sugar silo—and now it’s up to the mystery-solving milliner to find an unbalanced killer . . .

This is book 6 of the Missy DuBois Mystery series.

Review

This was a cute book and a great cozy mystery!! I have not read any of the other books in the Missy DuBois series, but that did not matter. Sandra Bretting did a great job of writing a story in a series, where she included enough information from previous books so that you understood completely what was happening and some of the history of Missy DuBois. Sandra Bretting’s writing is fun and lighthearted. You can’t help but keep turning the pages. Sandra’s characters are instantly likable and one can’t help but like them from page one. I will be sure to pick up more of Sandra Bretting’s books in the future!!

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About the Author

I was born in Southern California, but moved to the Midwest to attend the University of Missouri School of Journalism. I found my true calling when I took a creative writing class and another student assumed I’d come to Mizzou to be a novelist. (Bless you, oh stranger!)

I returned to California to freelance for the Los Angeles Times and also took every creative writing course I could get my hands on. Now I live in Texas, where I write cozy mysteries and enjoy life with my husband, daughters, and one slaphappy rescue dog.

In addition to having a wonderful agent and publishers, I’m blessed to have the very best readers in the world.

Taken from Sandra Bretting’s website: https://sandrabretting.com/index.html

Teaching is Murder

I was gifted this book by Cozy Mystery Review Crew and author Monique Bird in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis

Meet Claire. She has just purchased a home in Fairview, Colorado and loves the life she has. She has also been teaching 7th grade science for 5 years. Although Fariview is a small town that appears to be a tranquil little town, Fairview is anything but tranquil.

Claire is out running one night when she spots a stay kitten run into and empty home. Concerned for his safety, Claire follows the kitten into the empty home and stumbles across the body of a murdered jewelry thief. As if that isn’t enough, the next day Claire receives a cryptic message from a student that she taught last year.

As Claire begins to try and contact the former student to inquire about the strange email, the more dangerous her life becomes. Suddenly someone is after Claire and the missing jewels. As the killer’s attacks escalate, Claire decides to take matters into her own hands. With an old friend who’s now a detective and his handsome older brother, they pursue the murderer. Claire has a plan. It isn’t perfect, but anything is better than becoming the next victim.

Review

This was a nice quick read that I really enjoyed. Monique Bird has a unique way of writing that keeps that story light an airy, while still weaving the scariness of a murder and someone’s life being in danger. In addition, Monique Bird had a way of writing that allowed me to walk along side Claire, and be “a part of her life.” It was so much fun to read and see what kind of trouble Claire got into. Monique Bird also did a fantastic job of keeping me guessing. Every time I thought they had captured the killer and Claire’s life was now safe, there was a twist that Monique through in to push you off the right track. These twists added such fun to the story that you could not help but laugh at Claire and her bad luck. This was a great cozy mystery and I really enjoyed discovering Monique Bird as an author. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series and other books of Monique’s.

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About the Author

Monique Bird grew up on an orchard in Utah. She had a favorite spot high in a cherry tree where she would sit, make up stories, and daydream. Now, as a survivor of stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, she is actively pursuing those dreams. She also has two cats, Tod and George, who keep her entertained. 

Travels of Quinn

This month, I had the pleasure of working with the Cozy Mystery Review Crew to read and review the book Travels of Quinn by Sasscer Hill.

Synopsis

Meet Quinn who was born an Irish American Traveller gypsy. Raised by her father and step-family, Quinn was trained from an early age to be a con artist. During one of her cons, things go awry and Quinn is arrested for attempted robbery. Quinn is sentenced to pay restitution working on a horse farm, which Quinn surprisingly loves as she falls in love with each of the horses.

Then one day, the farm’s owner is brutally murdered and Quinn becomes the prime suspect in that murder. Quinn goes on the run and uses every scam and con she knows to not only save herself but prove her innocence. Can Quinn figure out the real murder before she goes to prison for life for a murder she did not commit or will she be murdered herself because she knows too much?

Review

For some reason, I have always had a fascination with gypsies. I am not sure if it is because of all the stories that I have heard about them or if it is because there are so many different types of gypsies with their own life styles and customs. Whatever the reason, when I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I just had to read it! And let me tell you, Sasscer Hill’s book did not disappoint!!

From page one, Sasscer Hill’s writing pulled me right in! The descriptions of Quinn and her family had me turning pages to see what kind of con they would pull next!! Then, Quinn is caught in the act of stealing and the story completely changed. It captured me into a murder mystery that kept me guessing at every page! I thought I had figured out what had happened early on, but each time I thought I had the entire mystery figured out, a new piece of the story was introduced and all my theories about what had happened went POOF! I enjoyed every minute of this book, and had a hard time putting it down, which is probably why I finished the book in 2 days!!!

I must admit that I a so glad that I found this book and author, however I am disappointed that there is not another book about Quinn. I am hoping that Sasscer Hill writes more books about Quinn, but for now, I will settle reading some of her other books (which I am sure will be just as good as this one)!! I am so glad to have discovered this author.

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