Review - Take the Monkey and Run

I was fortunate to discover this series with the debut novel.  I reviewed the first book in this series, Woof at the Door (click here), the second book A Tiger's Tale (click here), the third book Horse of a Different Killer (click here), and got an author interview (click here), and a guest post (click here.)  Today I am reviewing the fourth in the series.  Let's dive back into the Call of the Wilde mystery series.

Author: Laura Morrigan

Copyright: July 2016 (Berkley) 304 pgs

Series: 4th in Call of the Wilde Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre:  Cozy with paranormal elements

Main Characters: Grace Wilde, Animal behaviorist who speaks with animals telepathically

Setting: Modern day, New Orleans

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest review

Grace Wilde is excited to head to New Orleans for her first “real” case as an animal telepath. She intends to help a woman find her missing sister, but when she attempts to communicate with her client’s cat, Coco.  But before her meeting with Anya the sister, Logan warns her that her client isn't who she says she is and to not show them what she can really do.  When Grace tries to see what the cat Coco has to share, she find a monkey involved somehow, but even the monkey is elusive.

Grace was nervous about a job using her special skills then finds she is over her head with hidden agendas.  She is still dealing with relationship dynamics with Kai.  Sergeant Kai Duncan, Grace's boyfriend is present and their relationship slowly advances.  Emma, Grace's sister shows up in New Orleans to join Grace, and she brings along Kai and Hugh as well as Grace's half wolf.  Hugh is a fellow Veterinarian and Emma's new sweetie.  Logan is the dark, mysterious and dangerous killer who calls Grace "Sweetness".  He shows up to warn Grace of the dangers and we find out more about his murky story.  Belinda, the 6 foot 6 inch drag queen psychic is the breakout star - hilarious.  Of course the Mystery Monkey, Cornelius, is a surprise and very memorable.

Post Katrina New Orleans with both its eerie and mesmerizing sides are on display, the warehouse where Mardi Gras floats are stored was utilized for maximum effect.  The plot gets a little involved and the importance of Cornelius the Mystery Monkey isn't evident at first, but soon I started to suspect his role and it definitely was important.  I felt the pacing kept me captive in the story. 

The killer confrontation was exciting and tense stretched over a few scenes of action, well worth the build up.  The wrap-up was short and well done.  Another great addition to the this consistently riveting cozy series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fourth outing and can't think of a thing to make it better.

 Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

Review - Dressed to Kilt

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series that I have been following since the first book. Check out my previous reviews:  Off Kilter (click here) , second book Hooked on Ewe (click here), and the author graciously provided a guest post (click here).  It is time for the next installment in this series set in rural Scotland.  FYI, there is a quote from my review of the debut book in the first pages! Yay

Author: Hannah Reed

Copyright: July 2016 (Berkley) 304 pgs

Series: 3rd in Scottish Highlands Mystery series

Sensuality: Mild

Mystery Sub-genre:  Cozy

Main Character: Eden Elliott, recently divorced and romance author

Setting: Modern day, Glenkillen Scotland

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest opinion

"Winter is leaving the residents of Glenkillen snowbound, but Eden isn’t about to let the weather dampen her spirits. With only a little time left in Scotland, she’s determined to make the most of it—starting with attending a fancy whisky tasting with local looker Leith Cameron. But her classy date turns into a major party foul after a woman is found drowned in one of the vats of alcohol.

Eden immediately steps in as a Special Constable to help solve the case, but her investigation turns sour when she realizes that the killer could be somehow connected to her own Scottish heritage. Now, in order to find the proof she needs to put the murderer behind bars, she’ll have to take a shot at unearthing her family’s past—before she herself winds up buried."

Eden must face a painful part of her Scottish heritage that she has avoided her entire time in the country, besides facing that she doesn't want to leave the country but seems powerless to change it.  She takes in the murder victim's Scottish Fold cat (on the cover) for her last few weeks, and it is touching. Vicki MacBride, her good friend while living there, is up to something and trying to keep it a secret, and Eden has mixed feelings about.  Even her State-side BFF is being uncommunicative, which adds to her struggle to stay upbeat.  Leith Cameron, the epitome of a romance novel highlander also seems a bit stand-offish.  Eden also faces what her true feelings are regarding him.  Detective Inspector Kevin Jamieson seems reluctant to accept she is leaving. Special Constable Sean Stevens is back from training and is a combination of haughty and bumbling.  Bridie Dougal is a clan Chieftain who doesn't let her advanced age slow her down, she is the break-out character - irascible, used to getting her way, and a touch scheming.
 

The snowbound and icy highlands are so well portrayed that I forgot it was blistering summer out and thought I should grab a coat after reading for a while!  The beautiful rolling hills and vistas are now a frozen landscape with its own dangers.

The climax is a delightful mix of killer showdown with challenges that threaten Eden living to go back to the states.  The wrap up is touching and secures future adventures for Eden (I can't say anymore without spoilers).

This series is a must read for me and it is consistently a fun read with a balance of mystery and characters.  Eden has grown and is a mature-acting woman turning her life around and learning to follow her heart.  The addition of her family story is a bonus.  Not too heavy, but not too breezy either....just the right mix for an outstanding series.

Rating: 
 Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend. 

Refreshing Summer Spritzer
 -  4-6 bags Favorite herb tea (mine are Rasberry or Black Berry Zinger).  Brew, remove bags and cool.  Make strong because you will dilute.
-  2 Liter bottle of non-cola soda (7-up or Ginger Ale)

Mix in large pitcher or by-the-glass to taste.  The soda should sweeten the tea, but add slight amount of sweetener if needed - a little will do you in this.  Over ice this is a great summer treat with endless variety of flavors to go with any meal.
 

Author Guest Post - Betty Hechtman

Please welcome author Betty Hechtman to the blog today.  Betty writes two national best selling series for Berkley. GONE WITH THE WOOL is the fourth Yarn Retreat mystery. SEAMS LIKE MURDER is the tenth Crochet mystery. In addition, she is the author of STOLEN TREASURE, A Blue Schwartz Mystery. She has a B.A. in Fine Arts has written newspaper, magazine pieces, short stories and several scripts. She splits her time between Tarzana and Chicago with yarn stashes in both places.

Meet Casey Feldstein

I thought it might be fun to interview Casey Feldstein, the amateur Sleuth in the Yarn Retreat series. It’s a little bit like being two people, though, since I get to ask the questions and then answer them.

Me: You probably get asked this all the time, but what is a Yarn Retreat?

Casey: You’re right. I do get that a lot. Yarn – well, that refers to the yarn craft activities we have. In my latest adventure GONE WITH THE WOOL, the group learns how to knit with a loom and crochet a Monarch butterfly. And retreat – it means to get away from it all. Vista Del Mar, the hotel and conference center where I put on the retreats is a perfect place for that. It’s located on the tip of the Monterey peninsula and the weather is moody with lots of fog. The place has gone totally unplugged, so there is no cell phone reception, no Wifi, or even television to bring in all the troubles of the outside world. There is a message board and some old fashioned phone booths with landlines so we’re not totally cut off.

Me: Speaking of troubles – there seem to be a lot of murders in Cadbury by the Sea since you moved there.

Casey: Oh, you noticed. My ex boss Frank – he runs a P.I. agency in Chicago where I used to live – says the same thing all the time. Working for him was my favorite job. I was either an assistant detective or a detective’s assistant, depending on who you talk to. We’re still in touch, though. He is my go to for advice since I seem to get involved with investigating all those murders you mentioned. He complains about it, but I know he likes helping.

Me: So what about your latest investigation.

Casey: Go figure. The whole town was wrapped up in the return of the Monacrch Butterflies – In case you don’t know, every October thousands of Monarchs come to Cadbury to overwinter. They have a sanctuary in a stand of trees. The whole town goes crazy with a week long festival to welcome them back. There’s a Butterfly Ball, a street fair, a parade and even a Butterfly Queen. And in the midst of it this woman with a lot of enemies turns up dead. I had to get involved because of who the main suspect was.

Me: I understand a lot of you amateur sleuths have a ghost. You know, something hanging over your head that worries you. What’s yours.

Casey: You had to bring that up. Okay, I’m in my mid thirties and so far have a history of not sticking with things. I’m hoping that maybe I’ve changed. But who knows....

Me: Do you want to talk about the two men in your life?”

Casey: They’re not exactly in my life. Dr. Sammy Glickner is my ex and insists that he’s staying in Cadbury because he can pursue his magic career while still working as a urologist. Of course, our paths keep crossing and I do have a soft spot for him, but its just friendship. Really. And Dane Mangano is the cop who lives down the street. There might be some chemistry between us, but I’m fighting getting involved.

Me: What would you like readers to know about you?

Casey: You didn’t mention my other job. I think it’s important that it be known that I am a dessert chef and muffin baker. I make the desserts for the Blue Door restaurant and bake muffins for all the coffee spots in town. Everything I make sells out. It could be why the people of Cadbury look the other way about the dead bodies that keep showing up. They like my baking too much. By the way, I share recipes and patterns. I hope that’s all, because I got a group of retreaters waiting for me. Bye.

Website: BettyHechtman.com Facebook: Betty Hechtman (author) Twitter: @BettyHechtman

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Thank you Ms. Hechtman for that fun introduction to Casey Feldstein from the Yarn Retreat mysteries.  

Guest Author Post - Terrie Farley Moran

Terrie Farley Moran, author of the Read ‘Em and Eat mystery series and an Agatha Award Best First Novel winner joins us today.  Please welcome her as she provides a taste of her newest release.

READ TO DEATH

If you loved the recipe for Miss Marple’s Orange Iced Scones that Karen Owen (https://acupofteaandacozymystery. blogspot.com/ ) created for Caught Read-Handed, the second book in the Read ’Em and Eat cozy series, just wait until you try the recipe for Drunken Raisin Scones that Karen developed for Read to Death. The scones are delicious and a great match for the Old Man and the Sea Chowder recipe that I concocted.

Just ask Pastor John. He had guest coming and needed a quick lunch. Of course his wife Jocelyn, she of the straw textured hair and sour personality, was nowhere to be found. Sassy Cabot, book maven of the Read ’Em and Eat, came to the rescue with scones and chowder. And I must say, it is a delicious combination. You can find both recipes in the back of Read to Death.

But of course Pastor John’s lunch problem happened several days after Sassy’s BFF and business partner Bridgy Mayfield discovered a dead body in the Read ’Em and Eat parking lot and became the prime witness and (maybe) suspect.

What’s a girl to do when she’s under suspicion of murder? Why call her mom, that’s what. And Bridgy’s mom does what any mother would do—she jumped on a plane and headed to Fort Myers Beach to support her little girl. Of course there is a catch. Bridgy’s mom, Emelia, is Aunt Ophie’s sister and trust me when I tell you that the sisters don’t always see eye to eye. Actually you’d be on target if you said they never see eye to eye. So, happy as Bridgy is to have the comfort of her mom nearby, we witness lots of clash and bang anytime Ophelia and Emelia are in the same room.

There is so much going on what with snowbirds packing to head back north, book club meetings, family drama, tasty food and handsome young men, be they sheriff’s deputies, lawyers or newspaper reporters, that Bridgy and Sassy have quite the time fitting it all in while they try to throw suspicion off Bridgy’s shoulders and toss it to the real killer, whoever that may be. Sounds impossible but turns out to be highly doable for the spunky duo in Read to Death.
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THANK You Ms Moran for that fun run down of your most recent release.  

Review - Veiled Magic

I have reviewed Deborah Blake's paranormal amateur sleuth Baba Yaga series, Wickedly Dangerous (click here).  But this is a different series that is more along the lines of Urban Fantasy with a complex witch/cop as the main character.

Author: Deborah Blake

Copyright: November 2015 (Intermix) 280 pgs

Series: 1st in Donata Santori Mystery series

Sensuality:  Adult situations mentioned, sprinkled cursing

Mystery Sub-genre: Paranormal Police Procedural

Main Character: Policewoman Donata Santori is a witch who talks to the dead.

Setting: modern day, large city (never named)

Obtained Through: Publisher for honest opinion

"Police officer and Witch Donata Santori spends her days interrogating dead witnesses by summoning their spectral forms. Normally the job (Witness Retrieval Specialist) is little more than taking statements and filing reports. But when she’s called in on the case of a murdered art restorer, she finds herself suddenly in possession of a mystical portrait that both the human and paranormal communities would kill to get their hands on.

Unable to take on the forces hunting her alone, Donata seeks help from two unlikely and attractive allies: a reluctant shape-changer and a half-dragon art forger. But as the three of them hurry to uncover the truth about the powerful painting, Donata realizes that she’s caught in the middle of not one but two wars—one for possession of the painting’s secrets and one for possession of her heart."

Donata, the black sheep of her powerful witch family, gets in over her head trying to handle investigating the murder outside her official duties because the world doesn't know about the rest of the paranormal entities even though witches out now out-of-the-broom-closet.  She faces a lot and risks even more.  

Peter Casaventi, the half-dragon art forger, has to deal with finding out he is half dragon plus learn about the paranormal world.  I liked this character a lot and really want to see more of him in the next novel. Donata compares him to Cary Grant as John Robie the sophisticated cat burglar in To Catch a Thief and I had already made that comparison before it came up in the book.  

Magnus Torvald is Donata's prior boyfriend, a bear shapeshifter from a Viking tradition that glorifies fighting - but he is a pacifist.  Magnus helps Donata and Peter even though it is clear he would like to rekindle the flame with Donata.  Yeah, it's the old love triangle.  

Donata's mother and two sisters and difficult - like so many families are.  I liked Ricky, the Kobold Earth Spirit with the temper, but a loyal friend.  He was a great sidekick.

The plot and subplots were engaging and kept my interest.  The pages turned quickly as the story flowed easily.  The climax was action packed, although it sneaked up on me fast.  The wrap-up sets the stage perfectly for a continuation of Donata's adventures.

I loved this debut novel.  It is a great urban fantasy without being too dark, has developed characters, an interesting sidekick, plenty of action, some romance, and a sprinkling of humor.  The writing flows easily and draws you into this world.  I am loving this new series.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list