Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Monday, August 1, 2016

MUCH ADO ABOUT MUFFIN by Victoria Hamilton

CAT WITH A CLUE by Laurie Cass

THE READAHOLICS AND THE GOTHIC GALA by Laura DiSiverio

MUCH ADO ABOUT MUFFIN

Book 4 in the Merry Muffin Mysteries

by Victoria Hamilton

In this fresh mystery from the national bestselling author of Death of an English Muffin, baker Merry Wynter comes to the aid of an innocent woman accused of murder.

When muffin baker Merry Wynter sees an innocent woman accused of murder, it’s dough or die...

Opera singer Roma Toscano may have a crippling case of stage fright, but she certainly is stirring up drama in Autumn Vale, New York, as she prepares for an upcoming performance at Merry’s Wynter Castle. With her flamboyant style and flirtatious personality, Roma attracts fans as well as critics, including the town’s postmistress—and Merry’s bitter foe—Minnie Urqhart.

But Roma and Minnie’s heated rivalry goes cold after Merry discovers Minnie dead at the post office. While every clue seems to be another ingredient in the investigation of Roma, Merry thinks the case is half-baked, and she’s eager to get her mitts on the real killer...

MY REIVEW

A tasty delight, and a delectable treat!

Author Victoria Hamilton once again proves that muffin . . . I mean, nothing can keep her from writing a delicious mystery.

MUCH ADO ABOUT MUFFIN is the perfect addition to Ms. Hamilton’s Merry Muffin Mystery series. Not only does it bring new drama and mystery to the series, it also touches on other ongoing aspects.

Readers are allowed to get a good way into the story before the victim is found. I personally like it that way. I think it brings so much more to a tale. But just because the body is found later doesn’t mean the beginning is slow. Quite the opposite. There is so much happening in the first few chapters, I couldn’t believe how fast I was reading through it. I was simply engrossed. And once the body was discovered, well, there was no putting down this fabulous read for me. I devoured it!

I’ll merrily follow Victoria Hamilton and her Merry Muffin Mysteries as long as she writes them.

Make sure to check out the back of the book for some yummy muffin recipes!

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CAT WITH A CLUE

Book 5 in the Bookmobile Cat Mysteries

by Laurie Cass

The national bestselling author of Pouncing on Murder returns as librarian Minnie Hamilton and her rescue cat Eddie discover there’s a true crime story unraveling in their own nonfiction section. . . .

Early one morning while shelving books in the library, Minnie stumbles upon a dead body. Authorities identify the woman as an out-of-towner visiting Chilson for her great-aunt’s funeral. What she was doing in the library after hours is anyone’s guess . . . but Minnie and Eddie are determined to save the library’s reputation and catch a killer.

As rumors about the victim circulate through Chilson, the police are in a bind over a streak of baffling break-ins. Luckily, Minnie and Eddie are traveling the county in their bookmobile, and they'll stop at nothing to find the spineless killer before the final page is turned on someone else.

MY REVIEW

A real page turner, CAT WITH A CLUE will leaving you purring for more!

I can’t believe we’re already up to book five in this fan-cat-stic series. It feels like yesterday that I picked up the first book, LENDING A PAW, and fell in love with Minnie, Eddie, and their wonderful bookmobile.

This fifth book in the Bookmobile Cat Mysteries is the second best book in this series (I’ll always have a soft spot for the first book). Author Laurie Cass continues to up her game with strong, more intricate mysteries. CAT WITH A CLUE kept me guessing the entire way through, and I had no idea of the who or the why until all was revealed.

If you’re looking for a book with mystery, excitement, and fun . . . oh, and a sassy feline, look no further!

Check out the back of the book where you’ll find a sneak peek of the newest book coming up in this fun series!

RIP Eddie – The “real” Eddie passed away in March 18, 2016. My condolences to author Laurie Cass on the loss of her sweet furbaby. Eddie will live on forever in our hearts and on the pages of this series.

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THE READAHOLICS AND THE

GOTHIC GALA

Book 3 in the Book Club Mysteries

by Laura DiSilverio

One sleuthing book club finds themselves in the midst of a gothic-esque mystery as they read Du Maurier’s Rebecca in the latest from the author of The Readaholics and the Poirot Puzzle.

Reading the gothic classic Rebecca already has the Readaholics spooked, and the chills only get worse when someone in town actually gives up the ghost....

Amy-Faye Johnson has her hands full coordinating the Celebration of Gothic Novels in Heaven, Colorado. The festivities start off smoothly, but the weekend is soon cursed with large egos, old resentments, and uninvited guests. Matters become truly grave when a dead body is found at the gothic-themed costume party.

The out-of-town authors claim not to know the victim, but Amy-Faye has doubts. With skeletons turning up in all of the suspects’ closets, Amy-Faye and the Readaholics must tap into their knowledge of gothic literature to find a killer who lurks in the shadows...

MY REVIEW

I’ve wanted to be a part of a book club for some time now. Thanks to author Laura DiSilverio I get to be in one each time I read a new book in her Book Club Mystery series.

Ms. DiSilverio has come a long way since the first book in this series, THE READAHOLICS AND THE FALCON FIASCO (which I really enjoyed). She has done a fantastic job fleshing out all of her characters. It’s been fun to watch them grow.

Book three in the Book Club Mysteries, THE READAHOLICS AND THE GOTHIC GALA, was an excellent story with a mystery that gave me chills. I loved the gothic angle in the plot. It made for some wonderful reading.

The best in the series to date, this fast moving, exciting book kept me reading much later then I had intended. But once into the story, I couldn’t possible worry about sleep. I had to know whodunit. I have to tell you, it was totally worth being tired the whole next day!

If you’re in a book club, check out this series for making fun comparisons. With your group. If you’re not in a book group, the Book Group Mysteries will have you wanting to start one!