Review - A Doomful of Sugar

 Another new series for cozy mystery fans.  Who doesn't love maple syrup and beautiful maple trees??  Let's take a trip to Vermont in the autumn where murder strikes on a maple farm.

Author: Catherine Bruns

Copyright: October 2022 (Poisoned Pen Press) 278 pgs

Series: 1st in Maple Syrup Mysteries

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy mystery, amateur sleuth

Main Characters: Leila Khoury, new boss of Sappy Endings Maple Farm, cafe, & gift shop 

Setting: Contemporary, Sugar Ridge, Vermont (population 5000)

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Book Blurb:  "There's nothing sweet about murder…

Leila Khoury has always believed that everyone loved her father as much as they loved his artisanal maple syrup. But when he's killed, and she returns to Sugar Ridge, Vermont to take over his business, she starts to realize how much of his life she's left untapped.

With her brother under suspicion, her mother just barely holding it together, and police not producing any leads, Leila will have to investigate herself if she wants answers about her father's sticky end. But the more she learns, the more she worries that there won't be a sappy ending to the story.

A cozy mystery perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, this edition includes 5 delicious maple recipes for mystery readers with a sweet tooth!" 

My Thoughts: 

I have a mixed reaction to Liela since she is impatient and reacts badly in some instances (like confronting a suspect blurting out accusations--talk about stupid), then she has moments where she is caring and likeable. The mother, Selma, expected Liela to get married and be a homemaker rather than have a career and they still don't get along. I appreciated Liela's best friend, Heather as the support system for Liela.

The beginning was slow with a whole lot of backstory and descriptions with memories of her father as she is greiving. After the first few slow chapters it eventually picked up and I finally got into the story.  I actually had started the story, but was so put off I set it aside for a couple of months before coming back to it.  That is just an FYI, it does pick up and get better.

The mystery itself had some good meat to it and wasn't obvious with good red herrings.  I did enjoy it after those first rough chapters and looking back on it, it was entertaining overall.  The killer reveal was nail biting and suspenseful--my favorite.  

Rating: Good - after a slow start it improves and the mystery is worth it.

Here is a short video on how to make your own maple syrup from the tree sap.

Review - The Art of the Decoy

I love art related mysteries and this one involves the sort of items you would find on "Antiques Roadshow".  Although not the world of paintings and sculptures, the art of hand carved hunting decoys was still very interesting.

Author: Trish Esden

Copyright: April 5, 2022 (Crooked Lane Books) 320 pgs

Series: 1st in Scandal Mountain Antiques Mysteries

Sensuality: some allusions to intimacy 

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth, Art Mystery

Main Characters: Edie Brown, antiques dealer

Setting: Contemporary, Scandal Mountain Vermont-just south of Canadian border

Obtained Through: NetGalley for honest review

Book Blurb: "After her mother is sent to prison for art forgery, Edie Brown returns to Northern Vermont to rebuild her family’s fine art and antiques business. She’s certain she can do it now that her mother is gone. After all, butting heads with her mom over bad business practices was what drove Edie away three years ago, including a screwup that landed Edie on probation for selling stolen property.

 

When Edie scores a job appraising a waterfowl decoy collection at a hoarder’s farmhouse, she’s determined to take advantage of the situation to rebuild the business’s tarnished reputation and dwindling coffers. In lieu of payment, Edie intends to cherry-pick an exceptional decoy carved by the client’s renowned Quebecoise folk artist ancestors. Only the tables turn when the collection vanishes.

 

Accused of the theft, Edie’s terrified that the fallout will destroy the business and land her in prison next to her mom. Desperate, she digs into the underbelly of the local antiques and art world. When Edie uncovers a possible link between the decoy theft and a deadly robbery at a Quebec museum, she longs to ask her ex-probation officer, and ex-lover, for help. But she suspects his recent interest in rekindling their romance may hide a darker motive.

 

With the help of her eccentric uncle Tuck and Kala, their enigmatic new employee, Edie must risk all she holds dear to expose the thieves and recover the decoys before the FBI’s Art Crime Team or the ruthless thieves themselves catch up with her." 

Edie, has a lot of anger towards her mother, still remembers her grandparents death in a plane explosion, and is a mixed bag. At times I related with her, and at other times I felt she had impulse control problems and was reckless.  Tuck is her uncle, a dear man who loves african violets.  Kala Acosta is an intern who lists items online for sale, handles social media, computers, and research.  Shane Payton as Edie's former parole officer and former lover.

The plot is figuring out who stole the decoys under an extreme timeline, then murder strikes and the pressure is on to untangle the net quickly closing around Edie. I felt things picked up once the murder occurred. 

My Thoughts: I love paintings and sculptures, so the decoys didn't really interest me albeit I'm sure they are culturaly significant. I found myself frustrated a few times with Edie for her taking extreme risks (it was something like yelling during a horror movie not to go in the basement!)  But overall the characters were good, in particular Kala stole the show as an auxillary character.  The potential romance with Shane didn't work for me and I didn't feel anything there. No chemistry.  This is solidly an amateur sleuth as it isn't a cozy. A smidgen darker than a cozy while still being in a small town, and thus it has touches of a literary novel mixed in, which some may like.

Rating: Good - A fun read with an interesting premise and more literary, troubled character style.