Boarding House / B & B, Remote/Wilderness

Getaway With Murder (Mountain Lodge Book 1) by Diane Kelly

Fariba

Synopsis
After an amicable divorce, Misty Murphy uses the settlement money to purchase a lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She distinguishes her establishment from the surrounding Vrbos and Airbnbs by prioritizing group bookings over individual stays. Misty also partners with a neighboring diner, The Greasy Griddle, to provide morning meals to the guests.

When a yoga studio books a retreat at the Mountaintop Lodge, Misty is thrilled to receive so much business. Unfortunately, the studio owner Sasha is demanding and rude. She forbids the other yoga practitioners from eating the Greasy Griddle’s breakfast and treats Misty and her housekeeper as her personal servants. So naturally, Sasha ends up being the murder victim. The staff find her dead under the patio that the retreaters use for morning yoga. With the safety of the other guests and a business reputation on the line, Misty joins forces with her new crush Rocky to identify the killer at her lodge.

Thoughts
I am hooked on this series. Diane Kelly writes such interesting characters, and the mountain lodge setting is perfectly cozy. I also appreciated the subtle homage to And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Although Getaway With Murder is not exactly a locked room mystery since the guests can leave the lodge, it was fairly close to being one. I am also sold on the budding romance between Misty and Rocky. They do complement each other well.

There was only one minor detail that gave me pause: the “amicable” divorce between Misty and her ex. I dislike the trope of characters breaking up for convenience or for a change in scenery. As a teacher, I see daily how divorce impacts families. This is not a decision that any couple should take lightly. Misty not only obtains a divorce because her “relationship had run its course” (2), but she also finds a new man only 2 days after finalizing it. Misty may be a reliable sleuth, but is she a stable date? That remains to be seen.

My personal views on divorce aside, I thoroughly enjoyed book 2. I’m surprised by how quickly I raced through it. I usually don’t expect a cozy to be such a page turner. I now have only one more book left to read in the trilogy. Diane Kelly is becoming one of my favorite cozy authors.

Cozy Detective, Detective Fiction

The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown (Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation Book 2) by Vaseem Khan

Fariba

Synopsis
When the legendary Koh-i-noor diamond is stolen from a museum in Mumbai and a former colleague in the police force is arrested for the crime, Private Inspector Chopra and his elephant sidekick Ganesha agree to investigate the theft.

Thoughts
This was another engrossing novel in the series. Vaseem Khan does a great job bringing the lead and secondary characters to life. I enjoyed The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown not only because it was a fast-paced mystery but also because Inspector Chopra, his wife Poppy, and Ganesha are larger-than-life figures. In this book, Poppy gets more airtime. She strongarms Inspector Chopra’s assistant to help the principal of a school identify the culprit who stole the bust of the school’s founder as well as a stack of national exam papers. Although Poppy may be a bit overbearing, she has a big heart.

Vaseem Khan uses his mysteries to introduce Western readers to both the beautiful and the seedy parts of Mumbai. I enjoy reading this series because it allows me to learn about the city in which my father grew up. If you are looking for a cozy detective series with great storytelling and characters, look no further than the Baby Ganesh Agency Investigation series. While Book 2’s mystery was not as as strong as Book 1′s mystery, I still enjoyed returning to Inspector Chopra’s family and friends.

Boarding House / B & B, Cozy Mysteries, Remote/Wilderness

Snow Place for Murder (Mountain Lodge Book 3) by Diane Kelly

Fariba

Synopsis
When locals hear that Misty Murphy will be hosting London developer Nigel Goodwin at her Mountaintop Lodge in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, they immediately organize to stop Nigel from building a lavish resort on their pristine land. Protestors include a B & B owner, a wildlife rehabilitator and photographer, and an avid hunter. Misty is torn. Although she also does not want Nigel to destroy Beech Mountain, she nevertheless appreciates the business that the developer and his investors will bring to her lodge.

Misty is also thrilled because her sons will be helping her out at the lodge over the holidays. Since her amicable divorce, Misty has not been able to spend as much time with her sons as she would like. Unfortunately, the best laid plans go awry when the boys bring Misty what they think is a fancy, nose-shaped rock. Except of course, the “rock” is Nigel’s nose, which the boys ran over with their skis.

When the coroner reports that Nigel’s body was colder than the surrounding snow, the police conclude that it must have been stored in a deep freezer before being transported to the ski slopes. Will the ever-nosy Misty discover who committed the abominable crime?

Thoughts
When I picked up this book, I didn’t realize that it was the third in the Mountain Lodge series. However, I did not miss any important details. Snow Place for Murder is the perfect read for the winter season. The lodge and ski slopes create a very cozy backdrop for the murder. I also thought the pacing was on-point. In places, it reminded me of an Agatha Christie mystery. The snowed-in lodge resembled a locked-room mystery, which is one of my favorite tropes. Finally, I really like that Misty did most of the investigating and talked the reader through her reasoning.

My only quibble has to do with the few chapters told from Yeti’s perspective. Yeti is Misty’s lovable cat. I did not think that his perspective added anything to the novel. In fact, it threw me out of the story.

This small criticism aside, Snow Place for Murder was a great mystery. I look forward to reading books 1 and 2.

Cozy Mysteries, Craft (Sewing/Quilting..)

Hanging by a Thread (Needlecraft Book 6) by Monica Ferris

Fariba

The Needlecraft Mystery series by Monica Ferris is currently my go-to cozy series. I love returning to Excelsior and hanging out with Betsy, Godwin, and Jill.

Synopsis
In Book 6 of the Needlecraft series, Betsy enters into conflict with her friends for hiring a suspected killer. Godwin and most of the members of the Monday Bunch insist that Betsy’s roofing contractor Foster Johns murdered a couple five years previously. Unfortunately, the the ever-incompetent police inspector Mike Malloy was unable to prove Foster’s guilt. The only member of the Monday Bunch who believes Foster’s innocence is Alice. She tells Betsy that while Paul put on a great show in public, he privately abused his wife. Alice insists that Paul killed his wife and framed Foster Johns, but was then killed by someone who knew Paul’s true character. When Foster asks Betsy to investigate the cold case and help clear his name, Betsy once again has to put on her amateur sleuthing hat.

Thoughts
This was another solid mystery in the Needlecraft series. Set during Halloween season, the story includes some discussion of ghosts. One of Betsy’s customers is suspected of housing a poltergeist. Although I usually love Godwin’s character, he is especially irritating in this book. Godwin enjoys spreading gossip about Foster Johns and reinforcing the town’s hatred toward him. In Hanging by a Thread, Monica Ferris highlights the harm that gossip can inflict on an individual. This may be one of my favorite books in the series.

Reviews of Earlier Books
Crewel World
Framed in Lace
A Stitch in Time
Unraveled Sleeve
A Murderous Yarn

Craft (Sewing/Quilting..)

A Murderous Yarn (Needlecraft Book 5) By Monica Ferris

Fariba

Synopsis
I always enjoy returning to the Needlecraft series. The nerdy facts about hobbies keep me returning to the series. In this book, Betsy Devonshire volunteers to time contestants at an antique car race. But when one of the racers is found dead under a burning car, Betsy agrees to do what she does best: amateur sleuthing. With the help of Officer Jill Cross and Jill’s antique car enthusiast boyfriend, Lars, Betsy investigates the murder and brings the perpetrator to justice.

Thoughts
Monica Ferris is clearly an antique car enthusiast because the story was filled with fascinating facts about early 20th century vehicles. As such, this book is a departure from the previous four books in the series. There are hardly any details about needlecraft in A Murderous Yarn.

However, the characters and setting were excellent as always. Jill and Betsy have such a wonderful friendship and make a great sleuthing duo. Godwin is also getting my heart. He is Betsy’s gay employee and a near-professional fiber artist. In this book, Goddy is not his usual cheerful self but sulks over a breakup. I hope that he finds someone who will allow him to be his true self.

The only weakness was the mystery. It was run-of-the-mill and surprisingly predictable. It seems that Ferris wanted to focus more on the characters and antique car hobby than the investigation.

Although I wouldn’t recommend A Murderous Yarn to new readers of the series, I am pleased with this installment because it brought me even closer to the main characters and allowed me to learn about antique cars. As a certified nerd (TM), I approve of cozies that celebrate unique interests.

Other Reviews
Crewel World

Framed in Lace

A Stitch in Time

Unraveled Sleeve

Historical, Middle Grade Mysteries

Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity (Myrtle Hardcastle Book 5)

Fariba

Synopsis
When Myrtle Hardcastle’s governess Miss Judson inherits a Scottish castle from her recently deceased uncle Augustus MacJudd, Myrtle agrees to go to the island of Dunfyne, if only to prevent Miss Judson from falling in love with her new property. Myrtle’s father hopes that Miss Judson will sell the estate and move back to Swinburne, England so that he can propose to her.

Unfortunately, Miss Judson’s stay in Dunfyne lasts longer than expected. The lawyer in charge of the MacJudd estate is found dead and the estate’s boat goes missing. Myrtle thinks that the killer targeted the lawyer because he knew where to find a legendary jewel that belonged to the MacJudd clan.

Thoughts
This was another fun installment in what has become one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series. The mystery is layered and involves an interesting cast of characters. As usual, Myrtle makes connections that the adults miss. The castle ghost and the MacJudd treasure also added a layer of excitement to the story.

However, I ended up giving the book a 3.5 star rating because it dragged in places and was not as tightly plotted as the other novels. I will also say that the dialogue is not very accessible. Middle grade (and even adult) readers will find the dialect hard to understand. (Indeed, I often wonder how many middle schoolers would be able to understand the language in the Myrtle Hardcastle series in general.)

All in all, it was a good book, but I much prefer Book 4.

Stores/Restaurants, Uncategorized

Is “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” a Cozy Mystery?

Fariba

Let me say right off the bat that I loved Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. The protagonist, a 60-something Chinese American teashop owner, is an outrageous but endearing character. Although she makes many social faux pas and exhibits more than a little arrogance, Vera always know how to reach people’s hearts. If you are fine with the f-word in literature, I think you will also enjoy this novel. This was definitely the funniest book I’ve read in over a year.

But is Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers a cozy mystery? I know many cozy readers who would reply emphatically with a “no.” A cozy mystery is not supposed to involve swearing. Yet, I can’t help but notice the many other cozy elements in the story: an amateur sleuth, a small community, and an emphasis on character. The best cozy mysteries not only keep the reader guessing but also examine community and love. This novel accomplishes this superbly.

The plot is also typical for a cozy. When a man is found dead in Vera Wong’s World-Famous Teahouse, the shop owner not only vows to investigate his death but even traces the body herself in sharpie. Vera does not trust the police because they do not imitate the investigators on “CSI.” Instead, she uses her aromatic teas and comfort Chinese meals to win the hearts of her suspects and get to the bottom of the case. Over the course of the novel, Vera meets several young people who were connected to the victim in some way and have a strong motive for bumping him off.

Although I understand why readers hesitate to call Vera Wong a cozy mystery, I think the novel is a fine example of a “millenial cozy,” a growing subgenre that includes such books as Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala and Magic Lies and Deadly Pies by Misha Popp. Whereas older cozies avoid social issues, millenial cozies address the struggles and issues facing the millenial generation. Vera Wong tackles art theft and NFTs, two topics that worry modern artists.

I wonder how many millenials care about swearing in books. Apart from the F-word, there is nothing else in Vera Wong that violates the expectations of the cozy genre. While I certainly understand that calling the novel a cozy is primarily a marketing tactic to sell mysteries at a time when cozies are flying off the shelves, I think that many cozy readers would enjoy Vera Wong because of its resemblance to more typical cozies.

What do you think? Should Vera Wong be called a cozy?

Cozy Mysteries

January 2024 Reading Wrap-Up

Fariba

In January, I read 5 books. That is a good reading month for me. My favorite book was City Spies by James Ponti.

Below are links to my reviews.

A Bell in the Garden by Sheri Richey – 4 stars

City Spies by James Ponti – 5 stars

Spilling the Spice by Sheri Richey – 3 stars

Unraveled Sleeve by Monica Ferris – 4 stars

Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters – 3.5 stars