Quiche of Death / M. C. Beaton / 246 pgs

I don't like cozy mysteries, but I actually enjoyed this book. The mystery kept me guessing and the narrator did an amazing job with the voices. Agatha Raisin was a fun character and the Cotswolds was a wonderful venue for the mystery. I would think that cozy mystery lovers would really enjoy this book, the first in the Agatha Raisin series, but I would also recommend this book for folks who normally don't enjoy cozy mysteries. I might just even read the next book to see how I like it as well. I'm interested in the possible burgeoning romance between Agatha and the new neighbor.

Agatha Raisin retires early from the rat race in London and moves to the Cotswolds where she enters a quiche baking contest, but when the judge dies from poisoning, she's the prime suspect. She must try to find the killer herself in order to be exonerated.

Folly/ Stella Cameron/ 199 pgs

Folly is a solid, typical cozy mystery set in a small village in England. It wasn't quite what I was hoping to read at that moment, but that shouldn't detract from a book that was everything it was meant to be. Alex has recently returned to the village of her childhood after a painful divorce. A monk's beaten body is found in the woods and soon Alex is investigating with the help of the local vet (so are the police) and the entire village has something to say about the mystery. Events and decisions made by Alex toward the end of the story puzzled me, but if you are looking for a cozy mystery set in England, this won't disappoint.

Damsels in Distress / Joan Hess / 336 pgs / Audiobook

What I like about cozy mysteries is that you get the fun of solving a puzzle without the danger and fear of a truly frightening (or realistic) situation. A friend recommended this to me when I needed a light-hearted read, and since cozy mysteries lift me right up, I took her advice. To be honest, I wasn't fond of any of the characters. Claire Malloy has very strong opinions without much justification; men seem to fawn over her constantly; and her teenage daughter does nothing but complain. However, I like Renaissance Fairs, and Hess's mystery was intricate and well-developed. This did the trick of giving me a break. I probably won't be reading another Claire Malloy mystery, but I will recommend this one and try another book or series by Joan Hess!

Twelve Drummers Drumming/ C. C. Benison/ 384 pages

Twelve Drummers Drumming by C. C. Benison is the first offering of the Father Christmas series.  The reader is introduced to newly widowed Fr. Christmas and his daughter, Miranda.  They have just moved from London to the small village of Thornford Regis, a safe, friendly town.  That changes when the body of a young girl is found stuffed into a Japanese drum that was to be part of the May Fair.  Fr. Christmas works with the local police to solve the mystery.  Along the way the reader meets the locals in Thornford Regis and the nature of their relationships.  This was an interesting novel to read.  Of course, being the introduction of a series makes it more so, since the reader does not know who the 'regulars' are at this point.  If the reader likes cozy mysteries this should fit the bill nicely.

Between a Book and a Hard Place/ Denise Swanson/ 288 pages

Between a Book and a Hard Place by Denise Swanson is the next installment of the Deveraux's Dime Store series.  Deveraux Sinclare is attending a city council meeting when her long absent Mother shows up married to a rich Texan who is willing to support the town library for multiple years in exchange for using archived resources.  The Texan is found dead by Dev's mother and father and Dev must step in and solve the crime before her parents become murder suspects.  All the while Dev is balancing her relationships with Noah and Jake.  Dev and friends solve both the murder and a century old treasure hunt.

From Bad to Wurst/ Maddy Hunter/ 289 pages

From Bad to Wurst is the 10th book in Maddy Hunter's 'Passport to Peril' series.  In the latest installment Emily and the gang are touring Bavaria with multiple oompah bands for the Sounds of Music Festival.  While making their way to the hotel, one of the tour member/musicians is killed in an explosion.  Emily's dad steps in to take the musicians place by playing her accordion.  Memory loss, miracle face creams, and more fill out the story as the group checks out the sights.  This is book is a lighthearted mystery that takes place in an interesting location.

Trick of the Light/ Louise Penny/ 339pages

A Trick of the Light is the seventh book in the Inspector Gamache series written by Louise Penny.  Inspector Gamache is back on the job following injuries that took place between books five and six.  He and others from Three Pines are celebrating Clara's solo showing of her artwork.  The mood takes a sudden plunge when a body is discovered in Clara's garden.  First, the inspector must determine who the victim is and then who committed the crime.  There are many interesting twists and turns along the way with a heavy inclusion of Alcoholics Anonymous and the art world of Montreal.  Fans of Inspector Gamache will enjoy this tale as well as those who like cozy mysteries.  For more information and read a likes check out the SCCCLD website

Trimmed with Murder/ Sally Goldenbaum/ 322 pages

Trimmed with Murder by Sally Goldenbaum is the latest book in the Seaside Knitters Mystery series.  Charlies Chambers is returning back to Sea Harbor after a long absence.  Almost home, a hitchhiker practically forces herself into his car.  Amber Hanson is also returning home after a long absence.  She is coming home for the reading of her Grandmother's will.  Add in murder and mystery for a story that will keep the reader guessing.  If you like reading cozy mysteries and watching Murder She Wrote, this book will appeal to you.  For more information and additional read a likes check out the SCCCLD website.

Funeral Parlor Quilt/ Ann Hazelwood/ 263 pages

The Funeral Parlor Quilt is the third book in the Colebridge Series written by Ann Hazelwood.  Anne Brown is about to become Anne Dickson in this installment.  While on a short honeymoon, Sam experiences chest pain.  Anne adds one more thing to her list of worries.  The reader can follow Anne in the day to day process of running a floral shop on Main Street in Colebridge, MO,
maintaining her new home in an old, refurbished house and dealing with Grandmother Davis, a ghost.  Readers who like cozy mysteries and quilting will enjoy this book.  For more information and read a likes check out the SCCCLD website.

Jane Austen Quilt Club/ Ann Hazelwood/ 313 pages

The Jane Austen Quilt Club is the fourth book in the Colebridge Community Series written by Ann Hazelwood.  The book advances Anne Dickson's story as she contemplates expanding her flower shop on Main Street.  Along the way the Jane Austen Book Club adds a quilt to their projects.  When the quilt is entered into a quilt show in Florida, a  swap occurs and a different quilt is taken out of the shipping box.  Anne steps in to help solve the mystery.  This book would appeal to readers who like small towns, friendly characters and everyday events.  For more information and read a likes see the SCCCLD website.

Murder of an Open Book/ Denise Swanson/ 247 pages

Murder of an Open Book is the next installment of the Scumble River series written by Denise Swanson.  Skye Denison-Boyd and husband Wally are back from their honeymoon.  Skye is fighting off morning sickness while trying to keep her pregnancy under wraps from her mom, May.  An early morning swim in the high school pool helps with morning sickness, until the morning when the volleyball coach, Blair Hucksford tosses her out.  When the unpopular teacher is found dead in the pool, Skye and Wally work together to solve the murder.  Readers who like cozy mysteries will enjoy this book.  For more information and read a likes check out the SCCCLD website.

Fleur de Lies/ Maddy Hunter/ 219 pages

Fleur de Lies written by Maddy Hunter is the ninth book in the Passport to Peril series.  The reader follows Emily, and her tour group of senior citizens, up the Seine River from Normandy to Paris.  As always the case, someone dies.  Emily is joined by the usual cast of characters from the senior tour group and her ex-husband, Jack, along with some new characters.  Woody and Cal are morticians with very different ideas, Victor and Vivian are Jack's employers in the cosmetic industry, plus a woman from someones past rounds out the group.  Readers who like cozy mysteries will enjoy this book.  For more information and read a-likes visit the SCCCLD website.

Red Velvet Cup Cake Murder/ Joanne Fluke/ 323 pages

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder is the 17th book in Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson series.  Hannah is serving attending an open house at the renovated hotel turned condo when her friend, Barbara, falls from the roof.  Hannah is drawn into the investigation when Barbara insists that her brother tried to kill her.  Only problem, Barbara is an only child.  This mystery will appeal to readers who like cozy mysteries and baking.  For more information about this book check out the SCCCLD website.

Moving Finger / Agatha Christie 195 p. Deceased Author Challenge

Moving Finger / Agatha Christie 195 p. Deceased Author Challenge

In this 5th Miss Jane Marple mystery, Jerry Burton and his sister Joanna, sought out the quiet English town where he can recuperate in peace from a serious airplane accident.  Lymstock turns out to be nothing of the sort.  Someone is writing vile poison pen letters to various residents.  Jerry even gets one accusing his sister not really being his sister but his love interest.   As he moves about on his 'sticks', people seem to reveal themselves to him.  The prank becomes dangerous when one recipient commits suicide.   Then the murder occurs.  Jerry feels he has gone as far as he can in helping Inspector Nash when someone calls in her friend who is quite the expert in people and murders...Miss Jane Marple.  

Body in the Library / Agatha Christie 198 p. Deceased author challenge

Body in the Library / Agatha Christie 198 p.

The Colonel and Mrs. Bantry are awaken urgently by their maid with the news that there is a body in their library, a young blond girl.  Immediately Mrs. Bantry sends her car for Miss Jane Marple to solve the case in this intricately plotted murder that keeps one guessing till the very end.  The finger points first to one then to another.  With Miss Marple's keen eye for detail and knowledge of people, the murderer will be sussed out.  

Murder at the Vicarage / Agatha Christie 230 p. Deceased Author

Murder at the Vicarage / Agatha Christie 230 p. Deceased Author

More than one person wished Colonel Protheroe dead.  When he dies at the vicarage, nearly everyone in town is a suspect, starting with the vicar (after all the murder occurred in his study).  Perhaps it was his second wife, or his daughter, or the artist friendly with both.  Miss Jane Marple makes her first appearance as an astute observer of people and her exceedingly accurate deductive powers.  

Miss Pym Disposes / Josephine Tey 235 p. Deceased Author

Miss Pym Disposes / Josephine Tey 235 p. Deceased Author

Popular English psychologist is a guest lecture at Leys Physical Training College. She arrives near term's end. She is accepted by the students. She is impressed by their physical abilities.  She tends to notice things.  As end of year Demonstration Day nears,she finds that she wants to see them exhibit their gymnastic and dance abilities. She discovers cheat sheets for an upcoming final; which she destroys. She reasoned that the student had not be able to use them. When an accident occurs, only Miss Pym suspects foul play.   Interesting twist ending.  Strong character development is the defining story element.

Dying for a Cupcake Devereaux's Dime Store Mystery/ Denise Swanson/ 264 pages

Dying for a Cupcake is the fourth offering in Denise Swanson's Devereaux's Dime Store Mystery series.  Kizzy Cutler is returning to Shadow Bend after twenty years absence.  She is bringing a cup cake contest to her hometown.  The contest could bring good publicity to Shadow Bend, until a young woman's death and two murder attempts on Kizzy put a damper on the festivities.

This book would appeal to mystery readers and fans of Denise Swanson's original Scumble River Series.  For more information and read a likes visit the SCCCLD website.

Potting Shed Quilt Colebridge Community 2 / Ann Hazelwood/ 324 pages

The Potting Shed Quilt is the second book in the Colebridge Community series written by Ann Hazelwood.  Anne and her fiance, Sam, have bought a house, but it's the potting shed in the back yard that attracted Anne.  When she finds an old vase wrapped in a quilt, Anne is on a quest to decipher the cut apart letters used as the foundation for the quilt.
This book would appeal to anyone who likes crafty books, mysteries, romance and local color.  For more information about this book and other read a likes visit the SCCCLD web page.

Basement Quilt, A Colebridge Community Series # 1 / Ann Hazelwood / 309 pages

Basement Quilt is the first book in Ann Hazelwood's Colebridge Community Series.  The story takes place in a town just across the river from the Saint Louis County.  Anne Brown owns a flower shop on Main Street.  Her family members gather together to help Aunt Julia complete her quilt.  The story centers on family and personal relationships.  For more information and read a-likes visit the SCCCLD website.