Wrap-Up of the 2023 Cruisin' Through the Cozies Reading Challenge

When I joined this challenge a year ago, I joined at the Snoop Level which required me to read ten cozies.  I read 22 books! Participants could either choose any ten cozies to read or pick one cozy from the following categories:  

1)    culinary

2)    animal related

3)    craft related

4)    paranormal

5)    career based

6)    based outside the U. S.

7)    holiday

8)    travel 

9)    historical (I tend to prefer these types of books)

10)  wild card or a book of your choice

Here is what I read:

Death on the Danube by Jennifer Anderson

Vanish in Plain Sight by Marta Perry

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman

Murder in Plain Sight by Marta Perry

Murder on the Beach by Dianne Harmon

The Sterling Affair by Nathan Dylan Goodwin

The Orchard by Beverly Lewis

The Lemon Curd Killer by Laura Childs 

Terror in Topaz by A. M. Stuart

Letters of Trust by Wanda Brunstetter

Letters of Comfort by Wanda Brunstetter

Six Feet Deep Dish by Amanda Quigley

Ashes to Ashes Crust to Crust by Mindy Quigley

Clerical Errors by D. M. Greenwood

The Path of the Crooked by Ellery Adams

Fourth of July Forgery by Tonya Kappes

Poison by Charlotte King

The Way of the Wicked by Ellery Adams

Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

Six Sweets Under by  Sarah Fox

Honey Drop Dead by Laura Childs

The Heirloom by Beverly Lewis

Bulletproof Barista by Cleo Coyle

Thanksgiving Treachery by Tonya Kappes

Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bakeoff by Darci Hannah

Favorite Book:  Honey Drop Dead

Second Favorite Book:  Terror in Topaz

Least Favorite Book:  Death on the Danube

Letters of Comfort

Doretta Schwartz used to be a happy person and passed her positive attitude along to her friends in several letters that she wrote each month. All that changed the day she learned of her fiance William’s death and a heavy weight of depression fell upon her. Feeling empty, she puts away her letter writing and won’t even respond to calls from friends. William’s twin brother, Warren, is also grieving his loss, while at the same time, trying to be supportive to his parents and Doretta. Doretta responds to Warren’s friendship, but the question is has he just becoming a replacement for the once-in-a-lifetime love she lost?

Letters of Comfort is the second book in the author's Friendship Letters duology. While we all know Amish fiction ends on a positive note, don't let that make you believe that the plot is simple. Brunstetter gives us several twists and turns in Doretta's recovery as well as showing how deep someone can fall into depression. In many ways it is a medical mystery novel albeit one that is light and in which you can predict a lovely ending. The Author's Note tells us that she intended to write a book with depression as a theme. 

I was surprised to learn that Doretta's boyfriend William was not as good a person that she originally thought he was. Was it necessary to show this in order to make his twin Warren look good? I kind of wish he remained the perfect person. Nevertheless, Letters of Comfort is a primer on what lies beneath a person's exterior.

5 out of 5 stars.

Honey Drop Dead

Honey Drop Dead was published earlier this week on August 8, 2023. I had pre-ordered an ebook from my local library and read the book as soon as it hit my screen. In this 26th installment of the Indigo Teashop Series our heroine Theodosia Browning is catering a specialty tea for Charleston’s Imago Gallery at Petigru Park. The park has plenty of native grasses and a community beekeeping project. During the event, a fully suited up beekeeper showed up and sprayed toxic smoke at all of the guests. Then a gunshot was heard and Osgood Claxton III, a candidate for the state legislature, fell to the ground dead. Theodosia saw the beekeeper run away from the scene and ran after him. She couldn't catch him though. The next day Holly Burns, the owner of Imago Gallery, asks Theodosia to investigate the matter. Not only did someone get killed but several paintings were destroyed by the fumes that were sprayed and artists were cancelling their contracts with the gallery. As is usual with the series, almost everyone in Charleston disliked the deceased and leaving Theodosia with a long list of suspects to look into.

The story started out with a bang, pun intended. The murder happened early in the first chapter and wasn't solved until the final chapter, leaving alot of pages for plot twists. The deceased was a politician who everyone hated, including his wife. This gave Theo many more than the usual number of suspects to investigate and, as a result, more plot twists for the reader to enjoy. The pace was much faster than other books in the series. Was that due to the complex plot or the absence of secondary character involvement? I am not sure. I am glad, though, that I did not have to hear about Delaine Dish. She is an obnoxious character that I cannot stand. Even baker Haley had only a short mention albeit one which landed her under arrest. Theo, tea sommelier Drayton, and Riley, Theodosia's new policeman boyfriend, were the only main characters returning in Honey Drop Dead. All of the others were new to the series which I think is a plus. When a series is as long as this one, it is nice to upset the applecart every now and then.

5 out of 5 stars.

Six Sweets Under

Six Sweets Under is the first book in Sarah Fox's True Confections Mystery Series. There are only two books in the series to date but I am expecting this to be a long series. The genre is culinary cozy mystery and the heroine is a chocolatier. 

The publisher's summary: 

Former actress Becca Ransom lived her dream in Hollywood for seven years before returning to her hometown of Larch Haven, known as the Venice of North America. The Vermont town has canals instead of roads, gondolas instead of cars, and charming cottages plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. It’s also where Becca is pursuing her newest passion as a chocolatier at True Confections, the chocolate shop owned by her grandparents, Lolly and Pops.

 

While Becca’s testing new flavors and reconnecting with old friends, the town is gearing up for the annual Gondola Races, popular with both residents and tourists, with one exception. Local curmudgeon Archie Smith wants nothing more than to keep tourists away from Larch Haven. He’s determined to derail this year’s event and does his best to stir up trouble for the organizers, including Becca’s grandfather.

Following a heated argument with Pops, Archie is found floating face-down in the canal, and Pops finds himself in hot water as one of the top suspects. Becca’s determined to clear her grandfather’s name, but when the case heats up, she could be facing a sticky end.

I have never been so glad to see a victim killed before Archie Smith was murdered in this book. He died in chapter 2 but was so unpleasant already that when a dead body was found, I hoped it was his. It was. Archie was what I would call a raging senior. He hated everybody and everyone hated him because he opposed every official decision made in his hometown of Larch Haven. 

Rebecca (Becca) Ransom is the amateur sleuth. She is an actress who recently left Hollywood to return to her hometown and take over her family's candy shop. She was present on the town's  canal when Archie's body was found. When her grandfather became a suspect Becca was unable to convince him to hire an attorney. Fearing for his life, Becca decides that she must determine the identity of the killer. From this point Becca becomes an amateur sleuth. Her BFF, Dizzy, plays a prominent role as Becca’s friend but does not participate in the investigation. Becca’s brother Gareth owns a restaurant in town and is married to Blake. Officer Sawyer is a possible love interest for Becca.  He did not participate in the investigation either other than telling her to stop interviewing suspects who could be dangerous. 

The name of the town providing the setting is Larch Haven. It's an unusual name. I wondered what larch meant and whether it would give details on the type of stories to follow in the series. What is a larch? It's a coniferous tree with bunches of green needles. These trees are found in the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere. Like perhaps Vermont where the story takes place. They symbolize maternal love because they commonly offer shelter to squirrels and birds. I guess the name itself has no bearing on the series. 

The investigation of the murder was slow. Most of the story was about Becca’s family and friend relationships. I am assuming that the author was setting up the foundation for this new world she has created in Larch Haven. Still, the reveal of the murderer was surprising. I just wish there were more twists in the story.

4 out of 5 stars.

Fourth of July Forgery

Fourth of July Forgery is the 6th Holiday Cozy Mystery from Tonya Kappes. It was published on June 29, 2023. The 7th book in the series will be published just one year from now on June 20, 2024. The Santa Claus Surprise will be the Christmas themed book in the series.

The publisher's summary:

Fireworks aren't the only things causing sparks this Fourth of July in Holiday Junction! The much-awaited sixth book in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series, Fourth of July Forgery, immerses readers in a mystery that's more intricate than a firework's design.

When the festive atmosphere is dampened by the grim discovery of a body on the shore, it's up to our firecracker reporter, Violet Rhinehammer, to fizzle out the truth. Delving into the shadowy world of art dealing and potential forgeries, Violet must crack this case faster than a skyrocket, all while trying to keep her relationships and reputation from going up in smoke.

As she navigates the labyrinth of deception and accusation, Violet realizes that even in Holiday Junction, secrets can still explode like a M80. Can she solve the puzzle before the last sparkler has fizzled out, or will the fuse on this mystery burn too quickly for her to handle?

This is a charming story that moved fast. Violet is a news reporter for the Junction Journal and the amateur sleuth for the story. She uses her job as a journalist to investigate the murder of art dealer Graham Winston, whose body was found during the annual fireworks display. The police have no involvement in searching for the perpetrator, which is a little odd. The only time the police chief is mentioned is when he drives a car in the town’s Fourth of July parade and when he arrests the perp. However, this suspension of belief did not bother me much because Violet's mind worked fast. As a result there was a new twist on just about every other page. The  reveal of the whodunnit was satisfying.

All of the characters were memorable. From Violet to her southern mother Millie Kaye, town gossip Goldie and the paper's newest journalist Radley.  Violet is a return character from a prior cozy series by the author. She is the main character in each installment of this Holiday Cozy Mystery series so I already know I am going to be reading all of them.

4 out of 5 stars.

Poison

Poison is the first book in The Cambridge Murder Mysteries series by Charlot King. As the series title suggests, these mysteries take place in Cambridge, England. The series features an amateur sleuth by the name of Professor Elizabeth Green. Other regular characters include her sidekicks Inspector Abley and grandson, Godric.

The publisher's summary:  

When junior lecturer Edward Wiley dies a horrifically painful death and police pathology cannot establish the cause of death, amateur sleuth Professor Elizabeth Green is desperate to help, especially with the crime scene being her own back garden by the river. A professor of poisons, Professor Green is determined to find the murderer before there is more death on the cobbles of Cambridge.

When the Dean of Bene’t’s College seems to be involved, when other Fellows keep tight-lipped, and even Inspector Abley is spending too much time on the golf course instead of investigating, it feels like the killer will strike again.

Following another grisly murder, a tense Inspector Abley realises he can't solve this crime without Elizabeth. With people dropping like flies and dead bodies increasing in number, Elizabeth's unbridled curiosity embroil this meddling sleuth right in the heart of this mysterious thriller of a case in this historic city.

And what of Professor Elizabeth Green? In her fifties, this female protagonist is quintessentially English. An eccentric professor in her ivory tower, she maintains a sharp wit, yet is flawed by her inability to connect well with people, instead giving off a cold, opinionated and sometimes acerbic air. Though very kind to all animals (dogs, cats and the rest!) - a vegan - and a great gardener, in truth she keeps her friends close, and only lets a few dear people into her world.

The Cambridge setting is what I loved most about this novel. Reading about my favorite places in Cambridge, such as Jesus Green, the architectural bridges, St. Mary's Church, and the River Cam, transported me back to a city I once visited. Cambridge is a photographer's paradise and as each area was mentioned in the story, I remembered the photos that I took there.

The mystery to be solved was entertaining but the progress of the investigation was slowed by all of the setting descriptions. For me this was not a negative but for someone unfamiliar with Cambridge this might be a negative. Also note that the author is British and, as such, there are plenty of British slang words used by her. Some I had never heard of but they added charm to the story. 

I loved all of the characters as they were the typical quirky and eccentric British characters we have come to expect from British literature. Elizabeth Green is a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences but loves being an amateur sleuth. She annoys police detective Ably because she interferes in his investigations. Her grandson Godric brings us more up to date slang terms and adds his take on what happened to the deceased. The local M.P. Jonathan Smythe is also involved. Because I love everything British, I even love the politicians.

4 out of 5 stars.

Clerical Errors

Dr. Diane M. Greenwood is the author of Clerical Errors. She describes herself as a low level ecclesiastical civil servant and is the retired diocesan director of education in Rochester. She wrote this series between 1991 and 1999. Her books span a time of turmoil in the Church of England when the issue of ordaining women as priests was debated. Clerical Errors was her first novel.

The story opens with Julia Smith sitting peacefully in the Medewich Cathedral after a job interview at the diocesan office when she hears a loud scream coming from the chapel. The housekeeper, Mrs. Sprigg, has found the severed head of a young vicar assigned to the cathedral in the baptismal font. Deaconess Theodora Braithwaite, the main character, and Julia look into the murder and other unusual incidents at the cathedral along with the help of Ian Caretaker who is, of course, the caretaker.

I found the book difficult to read. The writing seemed awkward as though it had been written in another era. However, the book was written in the 1990s. The plot was also difficult to follow. While Julia and another character named Dhani solved most of the mysteries, main character Theodora is the one who came up with the resolution of the murder toward the end of the story. Many of the clues that Theodora figured out were not mentioned in the story, which was odd. What I did enjoy was the Anglican Church setting. It was not enough, though, to carry the story.

Death on the Danube

In Death on the Danube, recent divorcee Lana Hanson agrees to fill in as a tour guide for her friend Dotty Thompson's Wanderlust Tours business during a Christmas Eve conversation. Dotty wants Lana to travel to Budapest in order to lead a group after one of the guides was injured in a skiing accident. With no job and being 2 months behind in rent, Lana agrees to go. It's a perfect way for her to ring in the new year and also pay her rent. Upon arrival in Budapest, Hungary the tour quickly turns into a nightmare when Carl, Lana's fellow tour guide, is found floating in the Danube River. The question is whether he was murdered or died in an accident. With all of the tourists having had problems with Carl, Lana finds her self trapped with nine murder suspects. When another tour guest dies, Lana has to figure out who the killer is before she also ends up floating in the Danube River. Death on the Danube is the first book in the Travel Can Be Murder cozy mystery series by Jennifer Alderson.

I did not care for the book. The murder didn't happen until I was 60% in to the story. There was no investigation by Lana other than checking the internet to find out who her passengers were. She did not interview the passengers nor did she interface with Budapest law enforcement. She did nothing to solve the crime as I was promised by the publisher's summary of the book. The passenger's problems with Carl did not surface until after he was dead so there was no point to the novel. All I read about was the tour itinerary and how Lana felt as she was pampered by hotel staff.

This story was boring. No rating.

2023 Cruisin' Through the Cozies Reading Challenge

This challenge is another one of my favorites.  There are two ways to participate.  You can read only cozy mysteries of your choice, which I will do, or read one book from each of the following sub-genres.

1)    culinary

2)    animal related

3)    craft related

4)    paranormal

5)    career based

6)    based outside the U. S.

7)    holiday

8)    travel 

9)    historical (I tend to prefer these types of books)

10)  wild card or a book of your choice

In addition, there are four levels from which you can choose to join:

Level one (Snoop):  read 10 cozy mysteries

Level two (Investigator):  read 20 cozy mysteries

Level three (Super Sleuth):  read 30 cozy mysteries

Level four (Sleuth Extraordinaire):  read 40 cozy mysteries

The challenge runs the 2023 calendar year.  Books do not need to be chosen in advance and can overlap with other challenges. Also, books can be in any format such as paper, audio and ebooks. Reviews are not required but welcome. 

I am joining at the Snoop level and will be selecting 10 books of my choice. Most of my choices will be career related or historical cozies.  If you would like to join the challenge, sign-ups are at the Socrates Book Reviews blog.