Tag: cozy

Homicide at Herne Hill by Alice Castle: polished to a high shine

Homicide in Herne Hill Beth Haldane, SE21’s premier – and only – single mum amateur sleuth, is really pleased to find a new friend at the school gates, in the shape of irrepressibly bouncy Nina. As well as a way with words, Nina has a puzzle she wants Beth to solve, centred on the solicitor’s… Continue reading Homicide at Herne Hill by Alice Castle: polished to a high shine

The Penhallow Train Incident by M S Spencer: clever and lively

This is a thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery set in Maine, although we get to find out a few other countries such as Egypt and the Sudan, and it all starts with a tourist ride on the Penhallow and Mooseland Lake Railway. What a wonderful name! Rachel Tinker is a volunteer on the railway – she… Continue reading The Penhallow Train Incident by M S Spencer: clever and lively

‘The Goat Parva Murders’ by Julian Worker: an indie gem

‘The Goat Parva Murders’ is a very entertaining and quirky cozy mystery. It’s populated with many very colourful characters who are a delight,even if some of them are a touch creepy. Our investigative heroes are Inspector Knowles and his sidekick Barnes. They have their hands full trying to make sense of things in Goat Parva,… Continue reading ‘The Goat Parva Murders’ by Julian Worker: an indie gem

Murder She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart: absorbing and atmospheric

Murder She Knit is a gentle, enjoyable cozy. Yes, there’s a murder but it’s offstage, although the dead body is found in the garden of our heroine, Pamela Paterson. Widow Pamela is on her own now that her daughter Penny is off at college, but she has a busy life editing a craft magazine, and… Continue reading Murder She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart: absorbing and atmospheric

Playing at Murder by Gillian Larkin: great start to a series

This is short , lively cozy mystery, despite the fact that our two protagonists are retirees. Connie and Sable, who are sisters-in-law, join forces as private investigators to keep themselves busy. Sable is dragged rather unwillingly into it to start with, but she soon begins to enjoy herself and provides the tough edge and technological… Continue reading Playing at Murder by Gillian Larkin: great start to a series

Life Without Shoes by Emma Cyrus

This is a murder mystery that involves a busy but secluded religious commune, New Life, headed by Father Ambrose. A trash bag containing the mutilated remains of a young girl is thrown onto their property, thus forcing the community to be dragged into the real world it tries hard to avoid as the murder is… Continue reading Life Without Shoes by Emma Cyrus

To Catch A Bad Guy by Marie Astor: office-based cozy

This is an office-based cozy mystery, which, it has to be said, makes a welcome change from the plethora of bakery-based ones! It’s set in Bostoff Securities where Janet Maple, our heroine, has just been given a job by long-time but rather controlling friend Lisa. Having worked in the DA’s office, Janet has a nose… Continue reading To Catch A Bad Guy by Marie Astor: office-based cozy

The Cat Came Back by Louise Clark

You know, this book really works! I was a little worried to start with that it wouldn’t, since it quickly emerges that there’s a magical paranormal element, and yet the book has such down-to-earth characters and a plot that has financial concerns at its core. Can such prosaic realism and such imaginative make-believe act in… Continue reading The Cat Came Back by Louise Clark

A Scone to Die For: a cozy mystery with all the right ingredients

I am a great fan of cozy mysteries, as you’ve probably guessed by now. What you may not know is that I’m also equally addicted to scones. So how could I possibly resist a cozy involving scones and that’s also set in Oxford, where I spent three wonderful years as an undergraduate rather longer ago… Continue reading A Scone to Die For: a cozy mystery with all the right ingredients