Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith

I read this for the Cozy Mystery Book Club, and you can check out the discussion here.

I love culinary cozies and I’m a tea fan, so I liked that aspect of the storyline. The mystery was fairly intriguing as well. However, the writing style seemed really basic. I was always aware I was reading a book because everything was told and explained instead of shown through action and dialogue, so that was disappointing.

Daisy was a weak character, too. She had no personality and deferred to men so much. She was a widow and mentioned her late husband a bit, which is understandable, but she never got into her grief, so even bringing him up felt hollow and didn't add anything to the story.

Beyond that, she kept saying she “didn’t know why” she had feelings for handsome, kind Jonas, but also went on dates and seemed trying to force something with Cade, which had been her prom date but was really dismissive and somewhat controlling of her. I found it off-putting that she kept acting like she wanted to be with him even after admitting how he treated her annoyed her. Get a backbone!

I did like the aspect of an adopted daughter wanting to find her birth mother and how that was handled. It felt really rushed at the end though, and a lot of that action happened off the page. And also, it was all facilitated by... guess who? A man! So that was kind of a bummer.

I think this would have been a much better book is Daisy (and her aunt Iris) were stronger characters - and stronger women. I wouldn’t have finished this if it wasn’t for book club.

Castle Dark Series by Veronica Bond

I first read Death in Castle Dark in August 2024 after getting the recommendation from the Cozy Mystery Book Club (though I read it too late to participate).

Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond. First read: It’s the first book in a cozy mystery series (A Dinner and a Murder Mystery Series). I love the setting of a castle used for murder mystery dinners because it’s already engaging and spooky - then add in a real murder, and I’m hooked! 

Re-read December 2025: I heard there was a new third book in this series so I wanted to re-read the first. This is SO cozy to me - I love the mystery dinner theater concept, and set in a castle makes it that much better. This is one I'll definitely re-read again.

Castle Deadly, Castle Deep by Veronica Bond. This one didn’t pull me in as much as the first. I thought Nora’s relationship drama seemed kind of middle school and immature, and that dragged on for most of the story. Some of the twists were good though, so the ending redeemed the book overall. Also too much dependence on the Doll's House play - explaining it too much.

Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond. This was a bit too sweet for me. It felt like it was more of a clean romance than a cozy mystery. The ending seemed especially over the top, with everyone getting engaged for Christmas? After dating six months? I also felt like the storyline of the men trying to find treasure in the castle was a bit too similar to the last book, which is disappointing. I’d read another installment if it went back to “seeing” the murder mysteries performed in the castle - I think there could be 3 or 4 unique storylines around that concept and I wouldn’t think it was too played out.

The first book will always be a cozy mystery I'd like to re-read. However, the second seemed like too much filler, while the third seemed like it was trying too hard to wrap up the series. I'd read further installments if they focused more on the mysteries than sugary-sweet romance, but I have a feeling the author was indeed trying to wrap up the series with this delayed third installment.

More in the Countess of Harleigh Series

I've been reading this series since the first book was a Cozy Mystery Book Club pick earlier this year, and it's become one of my favorites! I was excited to get the two newest installments through my library's Libby account.

George and Frances Roll the Dice by Dianne Freeman. This was a good novella to satisfy the “honeymoon” need for George and Frances without devoting a whole book to it. I understand it was a novella but everything felt a little flat and rushed to me; however, that could be because I just read book 8 and was kind of rewinding to read this, so I already knew some bits that came next, and the rest was like fitting puzzle pieces into things I had seen in book 8.

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman. I love this series and read the first seven installments earlier this year. I was looking forward to this one, even though I skipped the novella that came before it (but read it after). Thankfully, it all stands on its own, and it was nice to revisit these characters. However, I didn’t find the mystery too compelling - I think the characters involved with the murder were too much on the periphery, so the stakes felt too low. Still a quick, cozy read, though, and I’ll continue on with the series.

Here are my other reviews of the series.

The Secret, Book & Scone Society Series

This series has been on my radar for years. Thanks to Libby's history, I can see that I checked out the first ebook in 2023 but never read it. The cover didn't look that appealing to me, and I guess the blurb didn't grab me either, compared to other books on my TBR. But I checked out the ebook again earlier in October and as soon as I started reading, I was hooked. I had to get the whole series and can't wait for the eighth (and beyond?!) installments.

The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams. I’d heard of this series but the cover seemed pretty bland to me so I never picked it up. However, I needed a new ebook to read and this was available, so I gave it a try. I’m so glad I did! I love the depth and diversity of the characters and how their friendship began to form. I liked the mystery as well, and though I don’t typically like books that end on a blatant cliffhanger, I’ll allow it this time because I’m definitely going to keep reading it.

The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams. I’m loving this series! Each mystery is so interesting and has great twists that I don’t think of but don’t seem hokey or manufactured.

The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams. Absolutely love the new characters introduced here, but the mystery felt a bit disjointed. Still felt cozy, though, and made me eager to read the next to ensure some of the new additions stuck around.

Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams. This has been my least favorite installment in the series. The mystery wasn’t compelling to me and I felt like the women speaking out against “witchcraft” and banned books went silent way too easily compared to how things would have escalated in real life.

The Vanishing Type by Ellery Adams. I liked this a bit more than the last installment in the series but it still wasn’t my favorite. I do love McCabe and Bobbie being more active characters though.

Paper Cuts by Ellery Adams. I was glad to see some of Nora’s past coming after her in this book. After sharing the secret, then Bobbie coming into play, I thought something more would have to happen. This was a really good one, it felt a bit more dramatic and realistic than cozy, in a good way though. A series staying on the same level would get boring, so I appreciate how this mixed things up.

The Little Lost Library by Ellery Adams. This mystery was fun and made me wish I could see the little books Nora found! I also really liked the “A Rose for Emily” vibes with a twist.

The Tattered Cover by Ellery Adams. Review to come as soon as I get my hands on it!

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

I read this for the October Cozy Mystery Book Club - check out the discussion HERE! 

It took me a bit to get into this book because the main character seemed a little flat at first. I could hardly remember her name, and she seemed pretty rigid and bland initially before showing more personality about halfway through. I also felt like a lot of characters were introduced really quickly and it was hard to remember who they all were until I saw more scenes with them. They were introduced as names and developed into characters later, instead of seeming fully-formed from the start, so that put me off a bit. But I was determined to make it through, and I was glad I stuck with it. 

By the last third of the book, I was hooked! I liked the learning the history of La Llorona and seeing her as a "character" in a way. I also didn't see the twist coming, but I think the clues were there if I had picked up on them. I think paying more attention to the characters from the start and being able to keep them separate in my mind might have helped me figure out the villain... but maybe not! I thought that part of the story was really well done.

The romance seemed a bit forced to me. While the female characters were all introduced quickly, by name only, and then became more developed, the males were all presented more as characters/by their roles... but they were flat. It seemed like several guys were interested in Lily and she didn't really react to any of them initially, so I wasn't sure how the romance would go. Then, whoosh, it all seemed to happen at once. I wish the romance hadn't really developed until later in the series, but overall I'm curious enough to want to read the second book.

Against the Currant by Olivia Matthews

 

Against the Currant by Olivia Matthews

I read this book for the September Cozy Mystery Book Club and really appreciated the conversation we had about it, which you can view here.

I love culinary cozies and have a secret dream of opening a bakery despite not being an amazing baker myself, so I loved Lyndsay’s character. Her family was also really supportive and interesting. They were introduced really quickly without me being able to discern them, and even later on I kept forgetting which uncle was married to which aunt, etc. But I also understand they were established to give plenty of potential storylines for later in the series.

However, I don't think I'll be reading the rest. One reason is that the library doesn't have any later books, but also, this one was probably 100 pages too long due to repetition. A lot of things were repeated: the bakery smells, the support and closeness of the family, the suspects and their motives. I don’t think things need to be spelled out that much. 

Overall, the book pulled me in and gave me the clues I needed to solve the case along with Lyndsay, so I liked it for a book club read. And I liked the author's mystery and how she pulled it off, so I'm going to give another of her series a try to see if it's less repetitive.

Edam and Weep by Linda Reilly

Edam and Weep by Linda Reilly

This is truly my coziest of cozy mystery series because I'm a grilled cheese girl to my core. I'm always excited when there's a new book out, and this one snuck up on me! But I added it to my birthday list and devoured it right away.

I've previously reviewed the first four books in the series, and the fifth after I got it for Christmas. I've recommended the series to several people so I genuinely love it.

Which made it hard to start and see the word "garbed" used so excessively! Am I nitpicking? Maybe... But it's a rare word, and when I first saw it, I stopped reading immediately to make sure I was computing it correctly. Then I saw it a few pages later... TWICE on that same page! Overall it's in the book about six times, which might not be too awful because I know there are words and phrases I overuse in my own writing. However, the first three being so close together seems like something an editor should have caught. Plus, with it being such a strange word, I started joking that it was like garbed... sorry, barbed wire to my brain.

Beyond that, though, this is truly cozy and works really well to move the series along. I like that the wedding wasn't a big thing in the plot because I find that really boring. There were a lot of wedding-related mentions and errands throughout the book, but I'd rather read that than an overly long play-by-play of the day, so I was pleased by that. Really looking forward to more in the series.

Bee Keeping Cozy Mysteries by Jennie Marts

Take the Honey and Run

Read for Cozy Mystery Book Club (watch the meeting recording here to get more thoughts on this book!) and got sucked into the author’s cozy world of engaging characters. I love the bee references and honey recipes. I thought it was pretty low stakes overall but the writing and characters are enough to make me read the second book in the series, and possibly more from the author from there.

Kill or Bee Killed

I really liked this second book in the bee keeping series. I felt like I was able to solve the mystery along with the sleuth, which I didn’t get from the first book. I also really loved how some of the characters came to life - especially the great-aunts. I’m a bit confused about how the Sawyer/Bailey/Daisy thing will play out because... SPOILERS!

Countess of Harleigh Mystery Series by Diane Freeman

A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder

Read for Cozy Mystery Book Club and really drawn in by the sassy, independent heroine. I’m picky about historical fiction and wasn’t sure how this one was going to hit me but I think the historical elements were just enough to keep the story in a specific place in time while letting the characters and mystery shine. Looking forward to reading more of this series.

A Lady's Guide to Gossip and Murder

I read the first book in this series for Cozy Mystery Book Club and was hooked! I’m picky about historical fiction, but this is… very gently historical, I would say. It’s so easy to slip into the past and join Frances in this world. I thought this was a great second installment with a very interesting case and loved seeing how Frances rose to the challenges.

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder

Book three was a bit slow for me at the start, but the last fourth was fascinating. In my opinion, there were too many minor characters introduced in passing that ended up being suspects. Because of this, it was hard to keep them straight and try to figure out what was going on re: the crime. However, it didn't really matter because there was no way the reader could have solved the crime along with Frances, which was kind of disappointing because that's my favorite part of cozy mysteries. However, the ending was good enough that I'll definitely keep reading the series and hope this was a lull.

A Fiancee's Guide to First Wives and Murder

After a lackluster third installment, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the progression of the relationship between George and Frances, and liked seeing more of Aunt Hetty. It was also nice that Alicia Stoke-Whitney made a reappearance and developed her character a bit more. I got a bit of Irena’s backstory and family confused throughout the first part of the book, but overall it was a good story and great mystery.

A Bride's Guide to Marriage and Murder

This might have been my favorite book in the series yet! I love seeing more of Frances’s family - they’re all really unique characters. After some of the suspects blending together in the previous two books, this crime and everyone involved really stood out and had me hooked. There were lots of potential suspects yet the reader was able to solve things along with Frances and George.

A Newlywed's Guide to Fortune and Murder

I like that Frances and George are growing together and I like seeing how they work together, but this book was a miss for me. I think all the side characters being a previously unknown family made it harder for me to feel invested in the mystery. I did like how Aunt Hetty stepped up again - she's possibly my favorite character!

An Art Lover's Guide to Paris and Murder

This book was so fun! Frances and George finally get to go to France... but not for the wedding trip they expected. I loved getting more of George's family involved and thought the case and its surrounding drama was probably the best yet in this series. I can't wait for the next installment since this book will most likely change a lot of what happens in the future.

You Feta Watch Out by Linda Reilly

You Feta Watch Out by Linda Reilly

I read the first four books in this series in the fall and had to wait for this one to be released. I got it for Christmas but just read it in February due to my never-ending TBR and library checkouts.

It was good timing because I needed a cozy escape from reality, though, and this did the trick! I think this book progressed the side storyline of Carly and Ari nicely and it felt like that story was happening organically. Too often the romantic storylines of cozy mysteries either feel forced or rushed. While Carly and Ari are pretty innocent overall, I buy the sweetness and their relationship journey overall. I hope the series continues so we get to see their wedding, which should be happening soon!

I also love how the other characters are becoming more dimensional, for he most part. I loved getting to see more of Carly's sister, Norah. I also loved the development of Nina, and hope to see more from her. Suzanne seemed a bit pulled back this book, and I wonder if she's going to go away in the next, or if something's going on in her life she didn't really address... (Yes, I know it's fiction, but c'mon, I'm invested!) It was interesting to have some new players in this mystery, but I have to say I loved Grant coming back for the holidays. I'd read a side series starring him, even if it focused on food and music instead of mystery.

Overall, I think this was a great fifth book in the series. It was cozy, moved the overarching story along, and made me want to read more. I've recommended this series to a lot of people who seem to enjoy it as well, so give it a try!

The Record Shop Mystery Series by Olivia Blacke

I love finding a new cozy mystery series. Vinyl Resting Place was the January pick for Cozy Mystery Book Club. I love how the choices are always the first book in a series so you don't have to get up to speed with several books to join in on the discussion. Plus I love getting a chance to discover new authors and get invested in a series. My last home run from the book club was the Grilled Cheese mysteries.

Vinyl Resting Place

Was this book written just for me? I mean, records, coffee, and a mystery, yes please. Not to mention the song title puns used for the special brews Juni created in the shop! Speaking of the main character... I loved Juni and her sisters and the mystery of her uncle and all his associates. I thought it was really well done in terms of characters. The mystery itself wasn’t what I was expecting because I thought the reader would get all the clues to try and solve the mystery themselves, and that wasn’t possible (unless I missed something?), but it was still a fun ride with good twists. I definitely want to read more in this series.

A Fatal Groove

I loved the premise of this series but the first book didn’t quite grab me. I’m glad I gave Blacke another chance though, because this book ROCKED. I feel like she hit her stride here, or maybe it’s just because more townspeople were introduced and the story felt more rounded than the first mystery. I think the clues were better in this one too, and while there were plenty of potential suspects, I felt like I got to the resolution along with Juni, which I didn’t get from the first book. Can’t wait for the next! My favorite parts of both the first and second book in this series are definitely the song title/coffee puns - they're SO good.

Rhythm and Clues

The third book was such a satisfying resolution (for now???) to this series. I think I liked the second book best of all, but this one nicely wrapped up that love triangle (a bit late for my tastes but hey) and had a really interesting crime. My favorite part of the second book was seeing more of the community, and this takes that idea and runs with it, showing more of the town and local businesses. I feel like there weren’t enough coffee/music puns, though, which is just one reason I hope Blacke continues this series eventually. Six months in Cedar River isn’t enough!

The Blanche White Series by Barbara Neely

 Happy Black History Month!

I wanted to share the Blanche White books all together. Barbara Neely created this realistic, "average" yet incredibly intelligent sleuth that is one of the most memorable characters I've read. She doesn't shy away from racism, sexism, misgynoir, and other important societal issues. She's a cleaning lady and a stand-in mother for her niece and nephew yet still has romance (without getting in over her head, which is refreshing) and adventures.

This series was brought to my attention thanks to Sisters in Crime having a Reading Like a Writer discussion about the first book, Blanche on the Lam. I was hooked on Neely's writing style plus Blanche's larger-than-life personality, so I had to read the whole series.

Each book is worth a read, getting better and better as it goes on. Check out my reviews for the whole series:

Blanche on the Lam

Blanche Among the Talented Tenth

Blanche Cleans Up

Blanche Passes Go

Blanche Passes Go by Barbara Neely

Blanche Passes Go by Barbara Neely

I think this might be my favorite Blanche book of the series, though I loved them all for different reasons. (Major shout-out to Sisters in Crime for bringing these books - and this author! - to my attention.)

This one felt like a solid ending for the series, though I would happily read four more of whatever antics Blanche got into. I think the racial and justice issues in this book probably hit home the most for me, because the issues are so major and are becoming more and more relevant by the day.

I loved seeing Blanche’s friendship with Ardell in the flesh instead of over the phone as it had been in the previous books. I also enjoyed seeing a man treat Blanche right… most of the time, and how she kept her head about him.

Some quotes I especially loved:

"She'd never been big in the trust department and saw no reason for that to change - not until there was intelligent life on earth."

"Blanche thought it a special shame that so many poor white people had been suckered into believing black people were their enemy, instead of seeing how both grroups were being screwed by the same pale rich guy."

"[She's] just a woman like any other - making mistakes, being scared, moving on anyway. Just like the rest of us."

And my current favorite... 

"Maybe the only way to end this mess was for every woman to stand up for every other woman, even if she couldn't stand up for herself." 

This is a series I’ll re-read in time, and can’t recommend it enough to people who love mysteries, social commentary, and humor.

Blanche Cleans Up by Barbara Neely

Blanche Cleans Up by Barbara Neely

I think this has been my favorite Blanche book so far!

The mystery was deeply ingrained in a community instead of more limited like the previous two books. There was corruption in a few Black neighborhoods in Boston, threatening to spill over and impact even more people.

Blanche was sassier than ever and spoke so much truth. There was a lot of great commentary about how young Black men are expected to be and how they’re treated regardless of how they act. She also had a great angle on teenage pregnancy.

I’m excited to read the fourth book but also sad that it’s the last for Blanche.

See my reviews for Blanche on the Lam and Blanche Among the Talented Tenth.

Blanche Among the Talented Tenth by Barbara Neely

Blanche Among the Talented Tenth by Barbara Neely

I was reading this along with three or four other books off and on, so it took me a bit to finish but that’s no commentary on the book itself. I loved this one even more than the first Blanche book because I felt like her character was even stronger here.

The case wasn’t much of a compelling mystery to me, but I loved the setting and seeing how Blanche acted on vacation. There was also a lot of great social commentary on race, color, and gender here that is still so relevant today. I had to make note of so many instances because these sentences were just screaming at me as a woman. The character of Mattie wrote a book that touched on the inequity of parenting in the early childhood years and, as a mother, that whole section had me nodding my head (page 188-190 if you have the book).

With many of these relationship and inequality arguments, I first thought, "Wow, Neely was ahead of her time," but of course that's sadly not the case. We're going backwards and it's ridiculous, but reading some of these lines did give me a strange sense of hope that we got past it once and can get past it again.

This one especially stuck out to me as I raise a son on my own and look at the men in the world around us...

"Blanche had one of those moments when her heart nearly stopped at the thought that this child she was raising was growing up to be a prime aged male. She focussed on the affectionate, good natured, individual person Malik had always been. Would puberty turn his entire personality around? She knew she didn't have much control over whether he'd develop into a man she'd like to know. No matter how often she told him to treat girls and women with fairness and respect, and about the importance of knowing and understanding his own feelings, [...] there was still a whole world of other boys and men out there telling him that being a butt-fondling troglodyte was not only OK, but all right."

Phew. For a mystery novel set during a beach vacation, there were a lot of hard truths shared here. I can't wait to read the third and fourth books. (You can find my review of the first book here.)

Evenfall Witches Series

In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace

I heard a lot of buzz about In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace in the cozy mystery community and I love witchy things, so it seemed right up my alley. I had attempted to read Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue recently and couldn’t get into it, and honestly… this book reminded me a lot of that. And Gilmore Girls. It didn’t really pull me in, but it was an easy read so I stuck with it. I felt like everything came together toward the end, and that’s enough to make me want to read the second book. But I don’t think I’d really call it a cozy mystery because I don’t think it was possible to solve with the info given, and that didn’t really seem the focus - it was more on family and getting her magic back.

When the Crow's Away by Auralee Wallace

Since the feeling I came away with after finishing the first book was, "Hmm, that wasn't too bad," and my library had the second book, I checked it out to give it a shot. I wanted to like this book but, according to my Kindle, I hit 50% exactly and I just can't anymore. This one didn't feel as cozy as the first, I think because the first one seemed like it was establishing the setting and vibe, and then the second one did the same. So instead of cozy, it was just repetitive. The murder also felt very "...okay?" I wasn't sure why I should care. Usually in cozy mysteries the protagonist must solve the murder. They're compelled for some personal reason, or to save themselves or a loved one. That might have ended up being the case here, but the stakes weren't high enough by the halfway point for me to care so I'll never know. I have no problem reading a book that is just okay as long as it's entertaining, well-written, or makes me want to find out the answer, but this one was a major miss for me.

Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely

Blanche on the Lam by Barbara Neely

I read this because Sisters in Crime will have a Reading Like a Writer discussion on it soon and I wanted to take advantage of that.

I know there are a lot of mysteries out there, but I had never heard of this book! I’m so glad SinC brought it to my attention because I loved it!

Blanche is a cleaning woman who is taken to court after writing bad checks. Because she's a black woman in the south, she's sentenced to jail. But she's taking care of her dead sister's kids and can't leave them, plus she just doesn't want to be in jail. So she makes a run for it, and finds herself in a strange situation she doesn't know how to get out of without calling attention to herself and her whereabouts.

Blanche is so sassy and really stood out from a lot of mystery sleuths I’ve read lately. Here's one of her internal thoughts that cracked me up: "Waiting for some prime-aged whiteman to show up and set things right had the ring of guaranteed failure." I love all the side characters too, and how they form this network for Blanche.

The mystery itself was really well-done; I didn't see the twist coming, but it was explained well and didn't seem pulled out of thin air. I went back and saw the clues I'd missed in a different light. That said, I think one of the reveals was a little glossed over; I don't think I would have known what happened in the book alone - I had to look it up and check out another review to realize what transpired.

It’s written in the 1990s but sadly the racism and sexism aspects are so relevant these days that it could be a modern book. I can’t wait to read the rest of the Blanche series.

Case Closed Series by Lauren Magaziner

A bookseller recommended the Case Closed series by Lauren Magaziner when I mentioned loving both mysteries and middle grade/young adult books. I'm also a huge Choose Your Own Adventure fan, so this series was a dream come true! I'd recently been wanting to re-read Encyclopedia Brown books anyway, because I think my kid would like them, so these books were a great new treat.

Mystery in the Mansion

I actually bought the second book when I was visiting a bookstore out of town, without realizing it was the second! However, like many mystery series, you don't necessarily have to read them in order. I'm going to put my reviews in order, though.

I dove into the first book (after starting with the second) and really liked it! It’s such a fun way to kick off the series.

On the morning of a huge investigation that could save his mom's struggling detective agency, she ends up getting hit with a nasty flu. And with everything on the line, she can’t afford to drop the case.

With his best friend Eliza and her little brother Frank, Carlos takes on the investigation, which involves a quirky millionaire who’s been getting death threats. Someone’s after a buried fortune, but things get tricky with riddles, shady suspects, and a ton of secrets.

Since it's structured like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, you get to pick which suspects to interview, what questions to ask, and which clues to chase down.

Stolen from the Studio

The second book in the series has a touch of Hollywood glam when Carlos’s mom gets a big assignment to find a famous teen actress who’s gone missing. It's a serious case, so she doesn't want Carlos around, even though he solved the last mystery for her.

However, with Eliza and Frank by his side again, Carlos sneaks onto the set of the show to gather clues and interview suspects. He has to keep his detective work under wraps from his mom, who has a knack for spotting trouble.

Just like the first book, you get to choose which suspects to interview, what questions to ask, and which clues to follow.

Haunting at the Hotel

I love ghost stories, so this book had such a great premise! I was all in with the choose-your-own-adventure vibe mixed with puzzles and codes. It made the whole experience super fun.

In the third book of this interactive middle-grade series, we’re back with Carlos and his friends, but something is different... Carlos is now officially an apprentice detective at Las Pistas Detective Agency—he finally earned his mom’s trust!

Guests at a creepy mountain hotel are freaking out over strange disturbances, scary messages, and some seriously spooky howls. Carlos, Eliza, and Frank dig into what’s really going on: is it a ghost? What secrets is this haunted hotel hiding?

Danger on the Dig

This book seemed really different from the other three—maybe because they were all mostly set indoors, and this is outside on an archaeological dig? But it was still good and had some really great puzzles!

Carlos and his friends go international on an archaeological dig in Greece. But Carlos and Eliza are fighting, so they split up to tackle their own parts of the case. Still, their main goal is the same (and so is yours!): keep the booby traps from taking down their detective agency!

Linda Reilly's Grilled Cheese Mystery Series

I got the recommendation for the first book in the Grilled Cheese mystery series from the Cozy Mystery Book Club, which always recommends the first book so you don't have to jump into the middle of a series and feel lost. I've read several recommendations from that book club, but this has been my favorite (so far)!

Up to No Gouda

This is exactly the kind of low-stakes cozy mystery that I enjoy. The twist felt like it came out of nowhere since I didn’t catch many clues leading up to it, but I still had a great time reading it.

After the death of her husband, Carly moves back to Balsam Dell, Vermont, to finally open her dream business—a grilled cheese restaurant. Her gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches are a hit with locals and tourists... but not everyone’s a fan. Lyle Bagley, Carly’s high school ex, just bought the building her diner is in and wants her out. 

Then Lyle is found dead behind Carly’s dumpster and one of her employees is the prime suspect. Carly has to step up and figure out who the real killer is before her business goes under.

No Parm No Foul

The first book had me hooked, so I was super excited to dive into this one! It had all the clues I needed to solve the mystery alongside Carly, which made it even more fun than the first. Plus, I loved all the Halloween vibes and recipe ideas sprinkled throughout!

This book starts with a Halloween food competition that Carly really wants to win, because it's the perfect chance to impress the locals and show off her skills.

However, Ferris Menard, the owner of the nearby Sub-a-Dub-Sub, is mad at Carly because, just two days before the competition, one of his employees quit to work only at the grilled cheese restaurant. Ferris thinks Carly is to blame, accuses her of sabotage, and vows to ruin her.

The morning after the competition, Menard is found dead in his kitchen with a steak knife stuck in his heart. With plenty of people wanting to see him gone, Carly knows she has to figure out who did it.

Cheddar Late Than Dead

I’m really loving this series, and this book felt a bit darker compared to the first two. It didn’t have the same feel-good vibe, but it was still a great read. I also loved the idea of a donut grilled cheese and tried it for myself - it was the perfect blend of salty and sweet!

Carly’s former classmate, Klarissa Taddeo, is throwing an extravagant bridal shower at the historic Balsam Dell Inn. But when a double-booking messes things up, Klarissa is in a bind. They move the venue to the maid of honor's family mansion, and Carly steps in as caterer to save the day.

A rowdy group of groomsmen crashes the party and Klarissa is fuming at her fiancé. Things heat up when a loud argument breaks out, and everyone is shocked when the groom is found dead at the bottom of the stairs. Carly has to jump into action to clear her friends' names.

Brie Careful What You Wish For

This one felt a bit off to me, and it might be because the formatting was different from the previous books. Some chapters were only two pages long, which I didn’t remember from the earlier ones. The story was okay overall, but it didn’t grab me in the same way as the first two.

With the summer heat cranking up, Carly is excited to have teenager Ross Baxter delivering sandwiches to local seniors. He’s such a polite and hardworking young guy, so she brushes off when one of her more difficult customers complains about him. But Ross goes back to that same customer’s home for another delivery and discovers her dead body. Naturally, the police and half the town jump to the conclusion that he must have killed her, so Carly decides to step in and investigate to prove he’s innocent.

As Carly digs deeper, she finds out the victim had an estranged stepson and stepdaughter, both of whom were after her money to get their lives back on track. To make things worse, the dead woman had a reputation for causing trouble in other women’s marriages, which means Carly’s got a whole list of suspects to sift through.