Category: Cosy crime

Recent Reads: Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate by M. C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin book 13)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate has the local vicar with a new curate, who is stirring things up in the parish!  He’s good looking and attentive, so what could be the problem?

When he’s found murdered, the vicar, Alf Bloxley, is a suspect, and so Mrs Bloxley calls on her dear friend, Agatha, to help!  The fact that Alf hasn’t ever been able to stand Agatha doesn’t matter as Mrs Bloxley is the one that Agatha does it for!

Another very enjoyable book, with trips to London, Agatha having the reputation of being Roy’s mistress, and guilt for Agatha about a meal she accepts, all in all, a good mystery!

Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate was published in 2003, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

My review of the previous book in the Agatha Raisin series are below:

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (book 1)

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (book 2)

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (book 3)

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (book 4)

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (book 5)

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (book 6)

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death (book 7)

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (book 8)

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden (book 9)

Agatha Raisin and the fairies of Fryfam (book 10)

Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell (book 11)

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came (book 12)

Recent Reads: Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Shady Hollow by Juneau Black is a murder mystery with anthropomorphic woodland creatures.

Shady Hollow is the small town where  a grumpy toad is found dead, and newcomer and local reporter, Vera Vixen starts investigating.

It’s a cosy mystery but with woodland creatures, and was an enjoyable read.

Shady Hollow was published on 3rd February 2022, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Juneau Black on Twitter and their website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton.

Recent Reads: Cast Iron Alibi by Victoria Hamilton

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟

Cast Iron Alibi by Victoria Hamilton is book 9 in the series.  I haven’t read any of the previous books, but I did enjoy the book, and didn’t find that I missed out on too much.

Jaymie has invited her female friends from her college days, and whilst they always take a bit of time to get used to each other’s groove, this time is extra hard with someone new being brought along.

This is a murder mystery with a lot of female friendship dynamics.  It’s a cosy mystery, set in a small town, where the residents all know each other, and was a fun read.

Cast Iron Alibi was published on 5th November 2019, and is available from Amazon and Waterstones (as an audio book).

You can follow Victoria Hamilton on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Beyond the Page Publishing.

Recent Reads: Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came by M. C Beaton (Agatha Raisin book 12)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came has Agatha with a bit of a broken heart after James.  The fact that he ran off and said he was being a monk, and asked for a divorce was a lot.  But now he has sold his cottage, you know what this means…opportunity for romance on Agatha’s doorstep!

But this is Agatha we’re talking about!  There has been a flood, and Agatha sees a bride in wedding dress, and with a bouquet, go by under a bridge, and Agatha knows her from a recent beauty appointment!

Charles got married on his way back from France in the previous book! Agatha goes on holiday to a remote island in the South Pacific – running away from her problems, or towards herself?

All in all, a good book in the series!

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came was published on 12th July 2002 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

My review of the previous book in the Agatha Raisin series are below:

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (book 1)

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (book 2)

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (book 3)

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (book 4)

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (book 5)

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (book 6)

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death (book 7)

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (book 8)

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden (book 9)

Agatha Raisin and the fairies of Fryfam (book 10)

Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell (book 11)

Recent Reads: For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy book 3)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen is the third book in the Molly Murphy series, and as she had a little training from a private investigator in the last book, and has basically inherited his business.  She’s been chasing up some debts and dealing with current cases!  She also has the idea that people back in Ireland might have lost touch with family who have moved to the US, so she puts an advert in an Irish newspaper about being able to find people.

One of the new pieces of work that shows up is something that requires her to work undercover in a garment factory!

Having found out Daniel is engaged to a nice lady of society, she is determined to move on with her life.

This is shaping up to be a very enjoyable series, set in New York in the early 1900s, and I have been really enjoying the way the different communities are described!

For the Love of Mike was published on 9th December 2003, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

You can follow Rhys Bowen on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

You can read my review of books in this series: 

Murphy’s Choice (book 1)

Death of Riley (book 2)

Recent Reads: Agatha Raisin and the love from hell by M.C Beaton (Agatha Raisin 11)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Agatha Raisin and the love from hell by M.C Beaton has Agatha and James getting married!  But does this mean that Agatha has everything she ever wanted?  In a word, no, as James is an arse.

We see some of the usual character like Sir Charles Fraith and Mrs Bloxby.

I’ve found these books to be a really enjoyable and consistent series, and that I listen to the audio book with Penelope Keith doing the reading, just makes it for me!

Agatha Raisin and the love from hell was first published in 2001 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

My review of the previous book in the Agatha Raisin series are below:

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (book 1)

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (book 2)

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (book 3)

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (book 4)

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (book 5)

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (book 6)

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death (book 7)

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (book 8)

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden (book 9)

Agatha Raisin and the fairies of Fryfam (book 10)

Recent Reads: Death of Riley by Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy book 2)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Death of Riley by Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy book 2) is set in New York, in early twentith century, with Molly trying her hand at being a companion, and then getting a job with a private investigator.

There is a murder that she decides to investigate, and this time she’s had a little training from the private investigatory, which makes it interesting seeing the new things she does.  I enjoyed the evolution of Molly, and I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series!

Death of Riley was published on 5th December 2002, and is available from Amazon and Waterstones.

I listened to this one as an audiobook, and so enjoyed Lara Hutchinson’s reading of the book.

You can follow Rhys Bowen on Twitter, Facebook and her website.

You can read my review of book 1 in this series, Murphy’s Choice.

Recent Reads: Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam by M.C Beaton (Agatha Raisin 10)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam has Agatha moving to Norfolk after a fortune teller in the previous book told her that she would find her true love there.  She rents a cottage in village called Fryfam, and is ready to be welcomed, just as she was in Carsley.  Then odd lights start being seen in gardens, and things disappear from homes.

When there’s a murder locally, Agatha manages to fall under suspicion, and so the investigation begins!

This is another cosy mystery that I enjoyed, with Agatha being abrasive to new people, and in a new situation.

Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam was published in June 2000 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

My review of the previous book in the Agatha Raisin series are below:

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (book 1)

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (book 2)

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (book 3)

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (book 4)

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (book 5)

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (book 6)

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death (book 7)

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (book 8)

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden (book 9)

Recent Reads: Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot book 20)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie is set in a country house at Christmas, with a family gathering together to celebrate.  Simeon Lee has demanded attendance by all of his sons, and their families, and some others, so he can throw barbed insults, and tell them how life is about to change for all of them. Then there’s a murder, and Hercule Poirot is asked to investigate!

This is classic Golden Age cosy crime, set at Christmas, and so is a wonderfully warm and cosy read! I really enjoyed the story!

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas was published on 19th December 1938 and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.

Recent Reads: The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot story 35)

Posted on by Pam

My review:🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot story 35) is a short story set at Christmas, in an English country house, where Hercule Poirot has been sent by the government in order to find a ring that has been stolen from an Eastern prince.

Hercule Poirot likes his comfort, and so being in a draughty English country house at Christmas isn’t his idea of fun, but he is there to work a case. 

This is a lovely cosy, festive story, which I enjoyed, and was especially evocative at Christmas time.  

The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding was published on 12th December 1923, and is available as a short story collection from Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.org.