There are several publishers that keep the wonderful world of cozy mysteries going for us readers.
To me, one of the best is
Kensington Books!
Check out my reviews of these 3 fabulous titles from
Kensington Books!
📚📖📚📖📚
PURLS AND POISON
Book
2 in the Black Sheep & Co.
Mysteries
(Book
10 in total of with the Black Sheep Knitters)
by
Anne Canadeo
When a fellow Black Sheep Knitter is suspected of poisoning her coworker, the group puts down their needles and takes up their friend's defense . . .
Suzanne Cavanaugh has just about had it with her office rival at Prestige Properties. It's bad enough that Liza Devereaux is constantly needling her at work, but when she shows up at one of Suzanne’s open houses to poach potential buyers, it’s the last straw. No one in the office fails to hear the two snarling at each other.
When Liza is later found dead in her office cubicle—poisoned by a diet shake—Suzanne becomes the prime suspect. It’s soon discovered, though, that Liza had double-crossed so many around town and stashed their dark secrets in her designer handbags that anyone could be the culprit.
The Black Sheep Knitters have no doubt their friend has been framed—but they need to prove it. Stirred to action, they get together to catch a sneaky killer who's trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes . . .
Suzanne Cavanaugh has just about had it with her office rival at Prestige Properties. It's bad enough that Liza Devereaux is constantly needling her at work, but when she shows up at one of Suzanne’s open houses to poach potential buyers, it’s the last straw. No one in the office fails to hear the two snarling at each other.
When Liza is later found dead in her office cubicle—poisoned by a diet shake—Suzanne becomes the prime suspect. It’s soon discovered, though, that Liza had double-crossed so many around town and stashed their dark secrets in her designer handbags that anyone could be the culprit.
The Black Sheep Knitters have no doubt their friend has been framed—but they need to prove it. Stirred to action, they get together to catch a sneaky killer who's trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes . . .
In
PURLS AND POISON, author Anne Canadeo takes readers back to Plum Harbor and
quickly enmeshes us in a murder mystery where one of the Black Sheep Knitters
is a suspect. But the list of likely killers keeps growing. And with more
twists than a ball of yarn, this is was difficult whodunit to untangle.
I
really enjoyed this fast-paced story. Early into the book I was more than sure
I knew who the killer was. Yet when I read the reveal, I couldn’t believe how
far of the mark I was. I never saw it coming. But when I peeked back through
the book, I saw that the clues were there all along. Well done, Ms. Canadeo!
You
don’t have to be a knitter to enjoy PURLS AND POISON or this series. But if you
are, you’ll find a link for a knitting pattern at the end of the book. But if
you’re like me and can’t knit a stitch, there’s also a recipe included to
enjoy!
📚📖📚📖📚
THE
WHISPERED WORD
Book
2 in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society Mysteries
by
Ellery Adams
In New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams’ intriguing new Secret, Book, and Scone Society novel, Nora Pennington and her fiction loving friends in small-town Miracle Springs, North Carolina, encounter a young woman desperately in need of a new beginning . . .
Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books, believes that a well-chosen novel can bring healing and hope. But she and the other members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society know that sometimes, practical help is needed too. Such is the case with the reed-thin girl hiding in the fiction section of Nora’s store, wearing a hospital ID and a patchwork of faded bruises. She calls herself Abilene, and though Nora and her friends offer work, shelter, and a supportive ear, their guest isn’t ready to divulge her secrets. But when a customer is found dead in an assumed suicide, Nora uncovers a connection that points to Abilene as either a
suspect—or another target.
Summer’s end has brought other new arrivals to Miracle Springs too. Entrepreneur Griffin Kingsley opens Virtual Genie, a cyber business that unloads people’s unwanted goods for cash. With the town in an economic slump and folks hurting for money, Virtual Genie and its owner are both instantly popular. A patient listener, Griffin dispenses candy to children and strong coffee to adults, and seems like a bona fide gentleman. But Nora’s not inclined to judge a book by its cover. And when a second death hits town, Nora and her intrepid friends must help the new, greenhorn sheriff discern fact from fiction—and stop a killer intent on bringing another victim’s story to a close . . .
Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books, believes that a well-chosen novel can bring healing and hope. But she and the other members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society know that sometimes, practical help is needed too. Such is the case with the reed-thin girl hiding in the fiction section of Nora’s store, wearing a hospital ID and a patchwork of faded bruises. She calls herself Abilene, and though Nora and her friends offer work, shelter, and a supportive ear, their guest isn’t ready to divulge her secrets. But when a customer is found dead in an assumed suicide, Nora uncovers a connection that points to Abilene as either a
suspect—or another target.
Summer’s end has brought other new arrivals to Miracle Springs too. Entrepreneur Griffin Kingsley opens Virtual Genie, a cyber business that unloads people’s unwanted goods for cash. With the town in an economic slump and folks hurting for money, Virtual Genie and its owner are both instantly popular. A patient listener, Griffin dispenses candy to children and strong coffee to adults, and seems like a bona fide gentleman. But Nora’s not inclined to judge a book by its cover. And when a second death hits town, Nora and her intrepid friends must help the new, greenhorn sheriff discern fact from fiction—and stop a killer intent on bringing another victim’s story to a close . . .
It
has been my experience that any book written by author Ellery Adams is a book
worth reading. And any bookcase without an Ellery Adams book is incomplete.
THE
WHISPERED WORD is a wonderfully written story. From cover to cover I could
never guess what was coming next. Every feeling in me was brought out at some
point in this tale. From laughing to crying to straight up shock, this book had
me running the emotional gambit.
Note: While having a lovely cozy setting, and
fabulous characters, the background story of the young woman introduced in this
book was a little dark for my cozy mystery tastes. It is a brilliant piece of
writing, but something I wasn’t prepared for. I also give it a profanity
warning.
Despite
how the above paragraph may sound, I did enjoy reading THE WHISPERED WORD, and
I look forward to the next book in the series.
HOW
TO KNIT A MURDER
Book
13 in the Seaside Knitter’s Society Mysteries
by
Sally Goldenbaum
* Includes a knitting pattern *
A mysterious woman arrives in picturesque Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, and the Seaside Knitters welcome her into their cozy world of intricate patterns and colorful skeins. Unfortunately, nothing frays a warm introduction like cold-blooded murder . . .
With her shy manner and baggy jeans, Rose Chopra becomes an unlikely superhero the night she stumbles into Izzy Perry’s shop and inadvertently saves a shipment of yarn from water damage. When the Seaside Knitters help the enigmatic handywoman settle into town and find work at a popular real estate company, Rose proves she can fix just about anything—until a potential homebuyer is killed and she becomes entangled in murder . . .
The moment controversial entrepreneur Spencer Paxton is found dead in a pricey ocean-side house, accusations fly at the last person on the property—Rose. But the Seaside Knitters have their doubts. After all, Spencer’s political aspirations as well as his company’s plans to pave over Sea Harbor’s historic art district with luxury apartments earned him some very real enemies . . .
Now, Izzy, Birdie, Nell, and Cass must swap knitting for sleuthing as they struggle to move the needle on a twisted homicide case causing turmoil across town. As tensions build in the sleepy New England community and Rose’s secret past unravels, the ladies face an unsettling realization—true victims aren’t always the ones buried six feet under . . .
A mysterious woman arrives in picturesque Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, and the Seaside Knitters welcome her into their cozy world of intricate patterns and colorful skeins. Unfortunately, nothing frays a warm introduction like cold-blooded murder . . .
With her shy manner and baggy jeans, Rose Chopra becomes an unlikely superhero the night she stumbles into Izzy Perry’s shop and inadvertently saves a shipment of yarn from water damage. When the Seaside Knitters help the enigmatic handywoman settle into town and find work at a popular real estate company, Rose proves she can fix just about anything—until a potential homebuyer is killed and she becomes entangled in murder . . .
The moment controversial entrepreneur Spencer Paxton is found dead in a pricey ocean-side house, accusations fly at the last person on the property—Rose. But the Seaside Knitters have their doubts. After all, Spencer’s political aspirations as well as his company’s plans to pave over Sea Harbor’s historic art district with luxury apartments earned him some very real enemies . . .
Now, Izzy, Birdie, Nell, and Cass must swap knitting for sleuthing as they struggle to move the needle on a twisted homicide case causing turmoil across town. As tensions build in the sleepy New England community and Rose’s secret past unravels, the ladies face an unsettling realization—true victims aren’t always the ones buried six feet under . . .
There
is nothing quite like visiting Sea Harbor, Massachusetts the ladies of the
Seaside Knitter’s Society. Author Sally Goldenbaum makes everything come to
life to the point that you can hear the sounds and smell the aromas of the sea.
In
HOW TO KNIT A MURDER, the Knitters welcome a newcomer with a secret past.
Author Goldenbaum brilliantly reveals that past, and more, in this wonderful,
faced paced mystery. Every chapter brought something to the tale that increased
my need to find answers. Reading well into the night, I couldn’t bring myself
to close this book until I had finished.
One
thing I didn’t think I would get used to with this series, but I now enjoy is
that you never know which character you’ll be “following”. Unlike books with
one protagonist, this series gives all the Knitters equal status.
HOW TO KNIT A MURDER is a must read for any fans
of knitting themed mysteries. But take it from someone who would be dangerous
with a knitting needle, you don’t have to know how to knit to enjoy this
series.
You know you want to add these to your Christmas list!
As always, please leave a comment and
let me know what you think!
Follow my blog by submitting your email in
upper right hand corner of this page. (on the side bar).
Reading from your phone? Scroll to the bottom of your page and click"View web version". Then follow the above directions.
Thanks, Lisa! Happy Monday, to you.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of Kensington cozies too.
ReplyDeleteKensington and Lyrical Underground are huge supporters of cozies! What a great company.
ReplyDeleteThey sound great, but the prices are way outside our idea of Affordable price!!
ReplyDeleteThey sound great, but the prices are way too high - especially for an ebook.
ReplyDelete