A Hard Day's Fright by Casey Daniels

About the book: What happened to a teenager named Lucy one night in 1966 after a Beatles concert? She rushed the stage, kissed Paul, started home with her friends, and was never seen again-until cemetery guide and unintentional PI to the dead Pepper Martin sees her as a ghost. Lucy’s spirit can’t rest in peace until her body is found and buried. But how will Pepper track down a missing corpse after forty-five years?

First line: Here's the thing people didn't get about Lucy Pasternak, I mean people who never net her: Lucy sparkled.

My thoughts: This is the 7th book in the Pepper Martin series and the 7th one I've read. I've really enjoyed these paranormal cozyish reads and this one was no exception. It was a quick, fun read. The characters are likable and engaging, the setting is unique  and the love interest is coming along.

Challenges:
100+
What's In A Name 5

Beaglemania by Linda O. Johnston

About the book: Lauren Vancouver is the head of HotRescues, a no-kill animal shelter north of Los Angeles, but it's often human nature that puts her in the path of danger. Just like when she helps rescue four adorable beagle puppies that were dumped down a drainpipe at a nasty puppy mill. One of the mill's employees has a history of dog abuse-and a bone to pick with Lauren. And when he's found dead at HotRescues after threatening her, Lauren will have to sniff out the real killer to keep herself out of a cage...

Pet Rescue #1
Berkley Prime Crime
March 2011
On Sale: March 1, 2011
Featuring: Lauren Vancouve
298 pages
ISBN: 0425240215

First line: I am not a killer.

My thoughts: I love cozy mysteries and don't read nearly as many as I would like to, so I was really looking forward to this one. The name was cute and the cover fetching. The blurb says that adorable beagle puppies were rescued. In my head I had pictures of the adorable beagle puppies running rampant throughout the story causing trouble, laughter and warmhearted moments. Not so. They were barely mentioned. This disappointed me.

What was good were the details about animal rescue. This is a subject that is close to my heart. I liked the way HotRescues was set up and described. The mystery was a nice little cozy mystery with characters that I could relate to. I guessed who the murderer was early on, but that was ok. I liked Lauren, the main and most developed character. It dragged a little in the middle. Over all it was a nice light read, I'd suggest you check it out at the library.

Rating:

Quote: I screamed. Had I made a huge mistake? As he launched himself toward me, I turned, protecting my throat with one hand and using the other, plus one leg, to shove him as hard as I could into the enclosure.

The End of the Road by Sue Henry

About the book: Maxie McNabb and her mini-dachshund, Stretch, meet a drifter who is ready to settle down in Homer, Alaska...in a most unexpected way.
Drifter John Walker has no friends in the area and no particular plans, but he's so engaging that Maxie invites the wayward soul over for dinner. The next day Walker moves on -- but a phone call informs Maxie that Walker never made it out of his motel room, where he's been found dead....
What looks like a simple suicide quickly grows complicated when the police discover that Walker never existed. His name is false. His fingerprints are not on file anywhere, and he matches no missing-person report. Caught up in the case, Maxie tries to fathom why Walker chose to end his life where the U.S. highway system ends in the waters of Kachemak Bay -- and where Maxie just might meet a dead end of her own....

First line: I woke late on Friday, the first of November, having stayed up late with a favorite book that I was reading between trips to the door in answer to the intermittent summons of several pirates, a robot costumed in cardboard boxes, a couple of skeletons, and a steady stream or other trick-or-treaters whose attire defied analysis in combination with their winter boots, coats, hats, and gloves.

My thoughts: I have been a fan of Sue Henry since I started reading her Jesse Arnold novels. These Maxie and Stretch books are an off shoot of those. I enjoyed this visit with Maxie and as usual loved Stretch. This was a nice cozy read, like visiting with an old friend. I liked the descriptions of Homer, Alaska. There wasn't much mystery and Maxie didn't actually do any poking around, everything happened around her. The ending felt rushed, it was just kind of rolled out there to bring the conclusion. It just wasn't on Sue Henry's best.
The End of the Road is the fourth book in this series. This would work as a stand alone, you wouldn't have to read the first three to be able to enjoy this one but I have to say that I liked the other books in this series better. My favorite was The Serpents Tail, so I would suggest that one to you first.

Rating:



Quote: She was not kidding about the bell. Above the counter between the kitchen and dining area is a ship's bell that I hung up back in the day when I grew weary of calling my always scattered family to dinner. it still gets regular use, even to summon Stretch, who has learned it often means food and is no dummy when it cimes to mealtimes.

Links:

Sue Henry

Death Splits a Hair by Nancy Bell

About the book: Mystery writer Nancy Bell, author of the highly acclaimed Biggie Weatherford series, introduced a new series with Restored to Death: A Judge Jackson Crain Mystery. The reviewers were delighted. Now Judge Crain is back.
In the second Judge Jackson Crain Mystery, Joe Junior McBride, beloved barber of Post Oak, Texas, has been murdered. At first glance, the homicide appears to be the work of a prowler, but as the investigation progresses, Joe Junior's second wife, Marlene Ashburn, becomes the prime suspect.
A stranger turns up at the funeral, and something about him reminds everyone of Joe Junior. But Joe's brother, Gerald, claims never to have seen him, and mounting evidence points to Marlene as the murderer.

First line: Jackson Crain pushed open the door of the Post Oak Barbershop, entered and stomped his boots on the rubber mat to dislodge the snow.

My thoughts: This was a homey, quick, cozy read. I loved the Biggie books by this author and thought I'd try out this series. I was attracted to these books bacause Bell writes about living in a small Texas town off where everyone knows their neighbor and their neighbor's business. I liked the characters, especially the judge.

I did not like this one quite as much as the Biggie series, it was a little slower without as many amuseing situations, but it was a quiet relaxing, feel good read. If you like cozy mysteries, I think you would like this one.

Rating:

Quote: Jackson got home from work to find Lutie Faye dropping floured chicken pieces into a cast-iron pot. The smell of the frying made his mouth water. He saw a chocolate cake sitting on the kitchen table with fourteen pink candles in the top.

"Umm, fried chicken," he observed. "And cake, too. What's the occasion?"

"It's Ashley's birthday," she said. "She told her mama she didn't care about any party as long as she could spend the night here and have me cook her some fried chicken."

"Lucky for the rest of us." He grinned. "Where are the girls?"

Links:
excerpt

Cat Striking Back by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Book Description : Beware of the cat striking back . . .
On a lovely moonlit night, Joe Grey is minding his own business, carrying a gift of mice to a litter of kittens, when he stumbles upon a murder scene. Behind an empty house lies a swimming pool, its bottom covered with mud. There is also blood, the smell of human death, and drag marks. But there is no victim. Without a body, it's a crime that will be hard to prove.
With stubborn feline curiosity, Joe Grey sets out to investigate. As he, Dulcie, and Kit follow the killer's trail among four houses whose owners are on vacation, they discover that more murder has been planned for the small, close-knit neighborhood. They uncover evidence of conflict among the residents and multiple signs of breaking-and-entering, although nothing valuable seems to be missing.
With the help of two local ferals, the cats find the victim's hidden grave and learn of the violence that is yet to come. As they set out to alert the law, they discover the perfect way to thwart the killer—through that person's unnatural but powerful fear of cats.
Thus unfolds the next installment in Shirley Rousseau Murphy's beguiling series about the gray tomcat P.I., his feline friends, and human companions, as, skirting danger, they unravel events shaped by human frailty and by the darkest feline imaginings from the killer's past.

Quotes: When Joe slipped out of his tower to the rooftops, his belly full of supper and his mind on the empty houses, the fog had blown away; the sky was clear, the moon bright as he leaped across the singles to the neighbor's roof and raced on into the night.

Why this book you might ask: I follow this series so there was no question about buying and reading this.

My Thoughts: I love this cat themed fantasy, cozy mystery series. This is the 15th book. It was a fun light read and while it won't be my favorite of the series I still enjoyed it. The thoughts of the human characters seemed to go on far too long, especially the musings of the bad guy. They were predictable and repetitive, I found myself skimming some pages. The lively dialogue I expect to read wasn't fully here this time. If you are a mystery person who loves cats or a cat lover who reads mysteries you'll like it.

Links:
Joe Grey books

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (October 27, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061123994
ISBN-13: 978-0061123993

Challenges:
100+ Challenge
2010 Cat Book Challenge
NaJuReMoNoMo
Monthly Mixer Mele

Total Pages for 2010:
This book - 319
Total - 1375

Elvis and the Dearly Departed by Peggy Webb

Synopsis: They say you can't get to Heaven without passing through the Eternal Rest Funeral Home. And no one gets into Eternal Rest without passing muster with Elvis—the basset hound who's convinced he's the reincarnation of the King of Rock ‘n' Roll. Brewing up a big ol' pitcher of Mississippi mystery, Peggy Webb's delightful new series is as intoxicating as the Delta breeze.
Normally, Callie Valentine Jones spends her days fixing up the hairdos of the dead, but when the corpse of local, prominent physician Dr. Leonard Laton goes missing, it's bad for business. So Callie and her cousin Lovie (Eternal Rest's resident wake caterer) have no choice but to go in hot pursuit of the recently embalmed, last seen bound for Vegas by way of downtown Tupelo.
In Vegas, Callie and Lovie hit the jackpot when they find the dearly departed inside a freezer owned by his showgirl mistress, Bubble Malone. But their luck runs out when Bubble decides to join her man in the afterlife. With the poisonous Laton family tree providing plenty of rotten suspects, Callie, along with some help from her basset hound, Elvis, is determined to crack this case—and have a killer singing “Jailhouse Rock” in time for her next haircutting appointment. . .

Quotes: I wonder if I'll ever know a passion such as that. Or have already known it, and let it slip through my fingers.

Having spiked coffee and crumpets around a coffins not your everyday sort of social, but the Valentine family takes a more broad-minded view of death.

Why this book you might ask: I got this book for Christmas. It was a combination of several things I enjoy in books: a dog, a southern setting, humor, and it is a cozy mystery. I figured it was worth a try.

My thoughts: What a silly bunch of nonsense. I loved it! It was a fast, fun, light hearted read with plenty of charm. Even the chapter titles were funny. Do not get this expecting a great work of literature but do expect to laugh and be entertained. Through out the book Callie's pet Basset Hound, Elvis (the reincarnated King) made comments on his humans and his surroundings. I enjoyed his funny little asides, and the details they brought to the story. Callie and her cousin, Lovie (The Southern Cousins) were likable characters. I intend to read the next in the series, I must find out what is going on with Jack. Elvis knows but he is not telling.

Links:
Peggy Webb Homepage
Preview the book

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758225903
ISBN-13: 978-0758225900

Challenges:
100+ Reading Challenge 2010
Monthly Mixer Mele
NaJuReMoNoMo

Pages read in 2010:
In this book - 295
Total- 722

Murder Packs a Suitcase by Cynthia Baxter

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Mallory Marlowe is ready to turn a corner—one lined with palm trees, plastic pink flamingo lawn ornaments, and snack bars shaped like giant ice cream cones. Thanks to her new job as travel writer for the New York magazine The Good Life, recently widowed Mallory is zipping around Orlando, assigned to rediscover the glory days of “old Florida.” It’s the first of what she hopes will be many exciting adventures . . . but she’s about to discover that the Sunshine State has a dark side.

Settled in among the faux volcanoes and tiki torches of the Polynesian Princess Hotel, Mallory is on the lookout for quirky attractions like alligator farms and pirate-themed diners hidden amid the glitzy theme parks. But she’s not prepared to find a cranky journalist speared to death in the Bali Ballroom—or to find herself a suspect in his murder. With her trip coming to a close, Mallory has no choice but to figure out if one of her fellow travel writers is a killer. Because if she doesn’t get out of Florida soon, her career—and her life—are about to come to a dead end.Includes Mallory’s article for The Good Life, with tips and reviews of real Florida attractions!

Quote from the book: "She also spotted a stuffed mommy gator with two babies Velcroed on, which struck her as a terrific way of keeping one's offspring close by. She wished someone had thought of that when Jordan was little."

Why this book, you might ask: The cover caught my eye, the title was fun, if a little corny and the book description sounded good!

My Thoughts: This was a fun to read cozy mystery. I liked the cover, bright and attractive. I might even call it "Cover Kitsch" to go along with this cute story. I liked Mallory, her visits to kitsch-y "old Florida" attractions and the humor the author wove in. I liked the way the author wrote about the nonfictional destinations. I figured out pretty soon who the murder victim would be because he was such an awful person. What I didn't figure out was who the murderer was. As the story rolled, Mallory found that everyone on the trip, including herself, had reason to want Phil dead. All in all I liked it a lot. I'll look up this author's next book in this series.

Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Bantam (October 28, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553590359
ISBN-13: 978-0553590357

murder, mystery, cozy, travel, Florida