Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Monday, June 5, 2017

YEWS WITH CAUTION by Kate Collins

PATTERNED AFTER DEATH by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

YEWS WITH CAUTION

Book 19 in the Flower Shop Mysteries

by Kate Collins

PAPERBACK

Flower shop owner Abby Knight is out to help a friend in need but soon finds herself in the weeds…

The Spring of Abby’s Discontent

It’s April in New Chapel, and Abby and her husband, Marco, are off to buy shrubs for their new house. But the owner of the local landscaping company is nowhere to be found. Abby’s best friend, Nikki, meanwhile, believes she unwittingly helped a group of her hospital coworkers conspire to kill the man.

After the police get involved, Nikki becomes a suspect. Abby digs deeper for clues to save her friend only to discover bushels of folks bearing a deep-rooted hatred for the two-faced business owner. Marco attempts to help Abby with the case but soon falls critically ill. Now Abby must find the real culprit on her own before everything goes to pot…

MY REVIEW

Once again author Kate Collins has plotted a garden of mystery, intermixed with mayhem and humor that is guaranteed to thrill readers’ senses.

Making it to book nineteen in a mystery series is no small feat for an author. They have to develop storylines consisting of the same characters, come up with new ways to kill off the victim, stay on canon with the rest of stories, and they have to keep readers wanting to come back for more. Lots of hard work for sure. But with a book like, YEWS WITH CAUTION, Kate Collins proves that it can be done, and done well.

Had I been drinking something as I read the end of chapter one of, YEWS WITH CAUTION , I would have done a spit take all over my book. As it is, I made an unladylike “HA!” starling my dog, my rabbit, and yes, even myself. Good thing no one else was home. Even as I type this review I’m laughing again at what I had read.

This was such a fast paced, witty, you-never-know-what-the-next-page-will-bring mystery. Seriously, I flip flopped from holding my breath, to laughing out loud, to biting my bottom lip in anticipation. Sometimes all in one chapter! I couldn’t tear myself away from Abby and Marco, and all of the wonderful characters, and excitement between the covers of YEWS WITH CAUTION. Even after I had read the action filled reveal, and the tender ending, the book spoke to me the rest of the day.

📘📖📗📚📘📖📗

PATTERNED AFTER DEATH

Book 12 in the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries

by Elizabeth Lynn Casey

PAPERBACK

Murder hits close to home for the Southern Sewing Circle in the latest mystery from national bestselling author Elizabeth Lynn Casey.

Everyone in Sweet Briar, South Carolina, knows former high school football stars Jake Davis and Noah Madden. The two were fierce rivals once and now, twenty years later, the dueling quarterbacks haven’t lost their luster. So townsfolk are surprised when Jake and Noah team up for a business venture. And there’s only one suspect when Noah turns up murdered.

Margaret Louise, Jake’s mother and one of the founding members of the sewing circle, isn’t about to take the attack on her son’s reputation lying down. In fact, she’s in full mama-bear mode. And Tori and the rest of the Sweet Briar gang are more than willing to help her sharpen her claws to catch a killer.

PATTERN AND SEWING TIPS INCLUDED

MY REVIEW

When I have a new book from author Casey, I try to make sure I have an entire day set aside to read it, because I know once I open that book I’m not going to want to put it down until I am finished. Her stories are that amazing. Out of my top five favorite cozy mystery series, the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries ties for top honors with Ms. Casey’s (Writing as Laura Bradford) Amish Mysteries.

Book 12 in the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, proves you can’t get too much a good thing. As with the previous titles in this series, PATTERNED AFTER DEATH was a brilliant cozy mystery, expertly written by author Elizabeth Lynn Casey. You can tell see put her heart and soul into this one.

Every time I’m back in Sweet Briar, SC I have the most glorious time. This time was no different. From the adorable town, to the very eclectic group of characters, I would have packed my bags and moved there years ago if only it really existed. PATTERNED AFTER DEATH focused a lot on my favorite character, Margaret Louise. She is one of the best characters in a southern cozy.

An exception tale from beginning to end, this whodunit had everything. An excellent mystery, one that had me speculating but getting no closer to the answer, southern charm as well as southern sarcasm, and stories with in the story that kept the pace of the book moving briskly. Honestly, there was not one slow or boring part.

At the back of the book you’ll find sewing tips, and a pattern for a lovely project. But never fear, you don’t have to know how to sew to read PATTERNED AFTER DEATH, or the rest of the series!

If you haven’t read the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, please don’t wait to get started on them. Seriously, I cannot say enough good things about this series.