When a local ice fisherman is brutally mauled to death in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, the only explanation offered is a hodag, a mythical creature long believed to be nothing more than a local hoax. The claim isn’t taken seriously by the townsfolk, especially since the hodag is deeply tied to the town’s identity and tourism. As…
Category: Cozy Mystery
The Marigold Cottages Murder Collective
Mrs. B, the formidable and big-hearted landlady of The Marigold Cottages in Santa Barbara, only rents to people she truly cares about: Sophie, an anxious young playwright; Hamilton, a chatty agoraphobe; Ocean, a queer sculptor raising two kids alone; the meticulous Lily-Ann; and Nicholas, a finance bro hiding secrets. Life in their charming, beachside bungalows…
The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant
Berkley kindly sent over an early copy of The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant, and while I enjoyed it, I did feel it could have been leaner in places. Olivia Blunt, a former fact‑checker eager to break into detective work, becomes the assistant to Aubrey Merritt, the country’s most renowned private investigator….
She Doesn’t Have a Clue
Kate Valentine, a bestselling mystery author who finds herself at her ex-fiancé’s destination wedding. (Yes, you read that right.) There’s champagne, tension, unresolved feelings, and a dead body. Oh, and her ex-crush, Jake, just so happens to be there too. The setup is great, but the delivery is more Hallmark-channel-meets-summer-beach-read than true crime podcast. This…
The Retirement Plan
Three best friends, one big betrayal, and a whole lot of life insurance money. The Retirement Plan is a sharply funny, slightly murderous debut that dives into the chaos of long-term marriages, lifelong friendships, and the dreams we have for our golden years. When Pam and her friends Shalisa, Nancy, and Marlene find out their…
The Busybody Book Club
In The Busybody Book Club, five wildly different members of a dysfunctional village book club are thrown together to solve a real-life mystery when one of their own vanishes—and a dead body is found at his house. Nova Davies, new to town and trying to save the struggling community center, inadvertently finds herself at the…
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping [on a Dead Man]
Oh how I love a good bossy and chaotic older character, especially in cozy mysteries. I love their banter and their ‘take no prisoners’ attitude. After loving Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers in 2023, I was stoked to get an advanced copy of Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man). With the…
The Gardener’s Plot
Maggie Walker is back in the small Berkshires town, where she spent summers with her aunt. After her aunt’s passing, Maggie is now the proud owner of the home she loved as a kid. When Violet Bloom sets out to create a community garden, Maggie jumps at the chance to co-chair the effort and share…
Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies
Bestselling author Eleanor Dash got her start from losing basing her first book on real events over ten years ago. Now with her 10th book coming out, she’s celebrating her 10-year anniversary with Press Tour to Italy. Her ex-boyfriend Connor Smith, her sister, and others involved in the series are all joining her on the…
Nosy Neighbors
Dorothy Darling has called Shelley House her home for decades and refuses to consider anywhere else home. Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere and has barely moved into Shelley Home, and as an illegal tenant at that. When the building faces demolishment and strange things start happening around the building, Kat and Dorothy,…