Archive for the ‘Cozy Mystery’ Category

Of Mushrooms And Matrimony ~ A Tish Tarragon Mystery by Amy Patricia Meade

Posted: January 8, 2023 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Of Mushrooms And Matrimony

A Tish Tarragon Mystery

by Amy Patricia Meade

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Of Mushrooms and Matrimony (A Tish Tarragon Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Severn House; Main edition (January 3, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 144830654X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448306541
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B8ZMBLCL

Tish Tarragon is catering for a wedding, but the weekend goes from sweet to sour when a guest at the venue is poisoned.

 

Literary caterer and owner of Cookin’ the Books cafe Tish Tarragon is pushing thoughts of her impending eviction aside to prepare an appetising welcome buffet for a wedding weekend at Abbingdon Green Bed and Breakfast. While there, Tish witnesses one of the guests, controversial TV chef and restaurant critic, Gunner Randall, threatening staff after missing breakfast and making do with a mushroom omelet.

 

When Randall is found dead the following day, it soon becomes clear that poisoned mushrooms were behind his demise. With no shortage of potential suspects and motives, can Tish and her new beau, Sheriff Clemson Reade, uncover who was enraged enough with the unsavoury star to silence him for good?

 

About Amy Patricia Meade 

Author of the critically acclaimed Marjorie McClelland Mysteries, Vermont Country Living Mysteries, and Tish Tarragon Mysteries, Amy Patricia Meade is a native of Long Island, NY, where she cut her teeth on classic films and books featuring Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown.

After stints as an Operations Manager for a document imaging company and as a freelance technical writer, Amy left the bright lights of New York City and headed north to pursue her creative writing career amidst the idyllic beauty of Vermont’s Green Mountains.

After five years living in Bristol, England, Amy now resides in upstate New York.

When not writing, Amy spends her time working for her musician husband, watching classic films, testing new recipes, belly dancing, and cleaning cat hair from her lap.

Author Links:  Website / Facebook / Instagram

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 4 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

January 4 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

January 5 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 5 – Ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT

January 6 – Books to the Ceiling – SPOTLIGHT*

January 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

January 7 – Bootsie’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

January 7 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 8 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – RECIPE

January 11 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 13 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 15 – I’m Into Books – RECIPE

January 16 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 17 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

Moving Is Murder ~ A Middle Age Is Murder Mystery by Nellie H. Steele

Posted: January 6, 2023 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Moving Is Murder

A Salem Falls B&B Paranormal Cozy Mystery

A Middle Age Is Murder Mystery

by Nellie H. Steele

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Moving is Murder: A Salem Falls B&B Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Middle Age is Murder Cozy Mysteries)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting –  Fictional town of Salem Falls
Independently Published (December 25, 2022)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 317 pages
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B9CBYX5W

A new hometown. A murdered aunt. Mysterious talking animals. Divorce just turned interesting.

Ellie Byrne’s pending divorce from her cheating husband threatens to leave her broke and homeless. But when she inherits a bed and breakfast in the unique town of Salem Falls, her prayers may be answered.

That is, until she finds out her aunt didn’t just die on the property, she was murdered. And shortly after Ellie arrives, she finds herself the target of threatening messages and hostile attitudes from almost everyone in town. And after someone chucks a rock through her window, she begins to fear for her life.

Can Ellie discover which one of them offed her aunt? Or will the bed and breakfast she’d hoped would provide a fresh start put her in the grave?

If you love middle-aged heroines, talking pets, and quirky small town settings, you’ll love book 1 in this charming paranormal women’s fiction cozy mystery series.

About Nellie H. Steele 

Award-winning author Nellie H. Steele writes in as many genres as she reads.

Addicted to books since she could read, Nellie escaped to fictional worlds like the ones created by Carolyn Keene or Victoria Holt long before she decided to put pen to paper and create her own realities.

When she’s not spinning a cozy mystery tale, building a new realm in a contemporary fantasy, or writing another action-adventure car chase, you can find her shuffling through her Noah’s Ark of rescue animals or enjoying a hot cuppa (that’s tea for most Americans.)

Author Links
Check out all Nellie’s offers at www.anovelideapublishing.com/novels or at her blog, Nellie’s Book Nook, available at www.nelliesbooknook.com!

Webpage / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Instagram

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 4 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

January 4 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 4 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 5 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 5 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

January 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 7 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

January 7 – Sneaky the Library cat’s blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 8 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 9 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 10 – Girl with Pen – SPOTLIGHT

January 11 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

January 11 – Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – Diana’s Book Journal – SPOTLIGHT

January 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

January 13 – Lady Hawkeye – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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Roast Date ~ A Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery by Heather Day Gilbert

Posted: December 20, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Roast Date

A Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery

by Heather Day Gilbert

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Roast Date (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – West Virginia
WoodHaven Press (December 20, 2022)
Number of Pages ~250
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09Z8NYHX9

BOOK SEVEN in the bestselling BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!

 

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.

 

After much cajoling, Macy gives in to her neighbor, Vera, and agrees to come to her book club’s Christmas party so she can share about the cafe. While public speaking isn’t Macy’s thing, she wants to brighten Vera’s lonely holiday season…and she can sell a little house blend on the side.

 

When a lively book discussion spirals into a public roast of the mayor—who happens to be sitting in their midst—things get uncomfortable. Soon afterward, the mayor shows up dead in Vera’s bathroom, and no amount of gingerbread cookies or eggnog can restore Vera to the club’s good graces. ‘Tis the season for Macy to find the murderer, or else Vera might be taking a long winter’s nap in a jail cell.

 

Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.

The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series in order:
Book 1: No Filter
Book 2: Iced Over
Book 3: Fair Trade
Book 4: Spilled Milk
Book 5: Trouble Brewing
Book 6: Cold Drip
Book 7: Roast Date

About Heather Day Gilbert

Award-winning novelist Heather Day Gilbert enjoys writing mysteries and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather’s realistic characters—no matter what century—feel like best friends. When she’s not plotting stories, this native West Virginian can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter / BookBub / Goodreads

Purchase Link – Amazon 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 19 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 19 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

December 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

December 20 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 20 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 20 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

December 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

December 21 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 21 – Lady Hawkeye – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 21 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 22 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 22 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

December 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 22 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT

December 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

December 23 – The Book Diva’s Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 23 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

December 23 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Chaos At Carnegie Hall ~ A Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery by Kelly Oliver

Posted: December 19, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways, Historical
Tags: , ,
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Chaos at Carnegie Hall by Kelly Oliver Banner

Chaos at Carnegie Hall

by Kelly Oliver

 

 

December 5 – 30, 2022 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane Mystery series opener.

Can Fiona catch a killer and find a decent cup of tea before her mustache wax melts?

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1917. New York. Notorious spy, Fredrick Fredricks, has invited Fiona to Carnegie Hall to hear a famous soprano. It’s an opportunity the War Office can’t turn down. Fiona and Clifford are soon on their way, but not before Fiona is saddled with chaperon duties for Captain Hall’s niece. Is Fiona a spy or a glorified babysitter? From the minute Fiona meets the soprano aboard the RMS Adriatic it’s treble on the high C’s. Fiona sees something—or someone—thrown overboard, and then she overhears a chemist plotting in German with one of her own countrymen! And the trouble doesn’t stop when they disembark. Soon Fiona is doing time with a group of suffragettes and investigating America’s most impressive inventor Thomas Edison. When her number one suspect turns up dead at the opera and Fredrick Fredricks is caught red-handed, it looks like it’s finally curtains for the notorious spy. But all the evidence points to his innocence. Will Fiona change her tune and clear her nemesis’ name? Or will she do her duty? And just what is she going to do with the pesky Kitty Lane? Not to mention swoon-worthy Archie Somersby… If Fiona’s going to come out on top, she’s going to have to make the most difficult decision of her life: the choice between her head and her heart.

 

Book Details:

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

Published by: Boldwood Books Publication Date: November 2022 Number of Pages: 298 ISBN: 9781804831564 Series: The Fiona Figg Mysteries

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

* * * Inside, the cabin was the opposite of Hugo Schweitzer’s. Whereas the German’s room was disorderly and repulsive, this man’s berth was tidy and attractive. In fact, it hardly looked occupied. The bed was made in a neat military style. There wasn’t an article of clothing nor a personal item in sight. A faint scent of pine and citrus graced the room. Like a familiar embrace, the uniform order and pleasing smell put me at ease. Hugo Schweitzer’s disgusting mess had allowed clues to remain hidden in plain sight. This man’s neatness required clever hiding places. Where would I hide a secret document in this room? Under the mattress? In the wardrobe? Sewn inside an article of clothing? I crossed the room. Getting to the wardrobe was considerably easier than it had been in Schweitzer’s clutter. When I opened the wardrobe, a waft of pine and citrus caressed my nostrils again. I thought of Archie. When would I see him again? Concentrate, Fiona. Now was not the time to behave like a lovesick schoolgirl. Two neat suits hung on hangers, spaced apart like sentries guarding a gate. One was a uniform. A British uniform. Could this traitor be in the British army? The other was a black evening suit. Whatever the blackguard was wearing under that trench coat constituted his third and final outfit. There were no more. Standing to attention at the bottom of the wardrobe were two tall black boots. I bent down to get a closer look. Inside a boot would make a decent hiding place. “Looking for something?” a man’s voice boomed from behind me. I gasped and squeezed my eyes shut tight. If only I were wearing my maid’s costume—although what maid would be cleaning at this time of night? I should have changed into Harold the helpful bellboy. At least then I’d be dressed as a man. As it was, I was wearing a flimsy evening gown and as vulnerable as a lamb in a ship full of wolves. Did I dare turn around and face my accuser? “Did you find it?” The voice was closer now… and softer… and familiar. Good heavens. I whipped around and practically flew into his arms. “Archie.” He chuckled. “I should have known I’d find you breaking into my room.” He pulled me into an embrace. “Fiona. Dear Fiona.” He kissed the top of my head. I buried my head in his shoulder. Ahhh. The scent of pine and citrus… and those horrible Kenilworth cigarettes. The scent of Lieutenant Archie Somersby. My heart was racing. From being scared out of my wits, or from being in Archie’s embrace, I didn’t know. “What are you doing here?” “I could ask you the same.” He held me tighter. “You, first.” I inhaled his familiar presence. “I will tell you, but only because it’s necessary.” He pulled out of the embrace and held me out at arm’s length. “It’s crucial that you don’t expose me.” “Expose you?” I had to censor my imagination. His earnest green eyes framed by those dark lashes and that wild lock of chestnut hair falling across his forehead made it deuced difficult. “I’m on an important mission.” He fortified his countenance with a steely gaze. “You mustn’t let on that you know me. In fact, you should stay away from me.” He pulled a gold pocket watch out of his waistcoat pocket and glanced at it. I pulled my arm out of his grip. “Does your mission involve Hugo Schweitzer?” My tone was pained, but I couldn’t help it. I wished my feelings for him weren’t so strong. After all, I hardly knew him. Still, I knew he worked for British Intelligence, despite Fredrick Fredricks’s accusations to the contrary. Afterall, who was more trustworthy? A German spy or a British soldier, an especially attractive one too? Archie tilted his head and gave me a quizzical look. “How did you know?” “I saw you together earlier on deck.” Without a doubt, the trench coat and fedora Archie was wearing, along with his sleek silhouette and graceful gait, were identical to those of my mysterious compatriot and Hugo Schweitzer’s clandestine companion. He laughed. “I should have known that was you watching us.” He kissed me on the cheek. “Fiona, you’re an ace. I’ve never met a girl quite like you.” His eyes danced mischievously. The way he was laughing, I didn’t know whether to be insulted or flattered. Wait a blooming minute. “Did you forget something?” I’d seen that amused expression before. “Why did you return to your cabin?” “To catch you in the act, love.” Archie grinned. “So, you saw me in the corridor?” He raised his eyebrows and nodded. “Afraid so.” I punched his shoulder. “And instead of saying anything, you pulled this trick?” “I’m sorry.” He intercepted my hand and brought it to his lips. “Can you forgive me?” I pulled out of his grip. “Only if you can tell me about Mr. Schweitzer and the chemists’ war.” “You know I can’t do that.” He sighed. “It’s classified.” “What does the war have to do with aspirin, the headache remedy?” He led me to the bed, sat down, and patted the bedcover, inviting me to sit too. My cheeks flamed. It was only then that I realized I was alone in a gentleman’s room… after midnight, no less. Dilly Knox’s words echoed through my head. “Our Fiona will do anything for King and country, don’t you know.” That only strengthened my resolve. I was on official business and not a romantic getaway. I took a seat on the bed and tucked my gown tightly around my thighs. “You were going to tell me about aspirin?” “You’re nothing if not persistent.” Archie smiled and put his arm around my shoulders. I scooted to the head of the bed and out of his reach. “Aspirin?” He shook his head. “You really are quite a girl.” I folded my arms over my chest and glared at him. “Righto.” His smiled faded. “Aspirin is made from a chemical called phenol.” Phenol. I’d heard Hugo Schweitzer mention it. And phenol was in the letter from the Kaiser. The Kaiser’s letter. Should I tell Archie about the letter? Or report it to Captain Hall first? “What does phenol have to do with the war?” “We need phenol to make trinitrotoluene.” Archie gave me a knowing look. I gave him an ignorant stare in return. “What is trinitrotoluene?” “TNT.” “The explosive?” He nodded. “Golly.” Still, why did it matter if aspirin and TNT shared one element? How did that affect the war? Could aspirin be turned into an explosive? “Golly is right.” When he smiled, tiny dimples appeared at the corners of his mouth. I had to stop myself from reaching across the bed to touch that tempting lock of wavy hair… and those dimples. Stop it, Fiona. You’re on an espionage mission and not on holiday. A holiday with Archie… how divine. Stop! Just stop. “I’m sorry we can’t work together in the open.” He took my hand and kissed it. “But for now, I’m undercover and I have to stop Schweitzer at all costs.” “I have a confession.” I sat on my hands to keep from touching him. “I broke into Hugo Schweitzer’s cabin.” Archie sat up straighter. “Go on.” “He has a briefcase full of papers and letters… in German.” “Yes,” Archie said encouragingly. “One of the letters was from the Kaiser.” I glanced over at him. “I don’t suppose you can recount the letter verbatim?” He raised his eyebrows. He’d seen me do it before. “I don’t suppose you have a pencil and paper?” I released my hands from their bondage. Archie got up and went to the dressing table. He opened the top drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper and then withdrew a pencil from his breast pocket and held it up. I joined him and sat down at the table. He placed the paper on the table in front of me and handed me the pencil. “Work your magic, my love.” My pulse quickened. Did Archie just call me my love? My cheeks warmed. With a smile in my heart, I closed my eyes and let the words form before my mind like captions across a black screen. I didn’t know what they meant, but I could see them as clearly as if I were holding the letter in my hands. I opened my eyes and began setting to paper what I had seen. My hand was flying across the page. When I finished, I scanned my reproduction and then held it up to Archie. He’d been breathing over my shoulder as I wrote, which was deuced distracting. As he read, the grim look on his face spoke volumes. “Good God,” he gasped. “So that is what they’re up to. And the phenol plot goes all the way to the Kaiser himself.” He dropped the paper on the dressing table. “Schweitzer is siphoning off phenol from the allies on orders from the Kaiser himself.” Siphoning off phenol. The chemical needed to make explosives. So that was the phenol plot. The corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. “Fiona, you’re a genius.” I couldn’t help but smile. His eyes hardened. “I’ve got to stop him.” Archie’s hand trembled as he ran it through his hair. “I’ve got to stop Schweitzer.” I gazed up at him with as much resolve as I could muster. “You mean we’ve got to stop him.” *** Excerpt from Chaos at Carnegie Hall by Kelly Oliver. Copyright 2022 by Kelly Oliver. Reproduced with permission from Kelly Oliver. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Kelly Oliver:

Kelly Oliver

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of three mystery series: the seven-book suspense series, The Jessica James Mysteries; the three-book middle grade series, Pet Detective Mysteries; and the four-book historical cozy series, The Fiona Figg Mysteries. Chaos at Carnegie Hall is the latest Fiona Figg mystery, and the first to feature sidekick, Kitty Lane. When she’s not writing novels, Kelly is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.

To learn more about Kelly and her books, go to: www.KellyOliverBooks.com Goodreads BookBub – @KellyOliverBook Instagram – @KellyOliverBook Twitter – @KellyOliverBook Facebook – @KellyOliverAuthor

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaway entries!  

 

GIVEAWAY:

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Kelly Oliver. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.
 

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Free illustrations of Santa claus

Death Checked Out ~ A Larkspur Library Mystery by Leah Dobrinska

Posted: December 17, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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Death Checked Out

A Larkspur Library Mystery

by Leah Dobrinska

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Death Checked Out: A Larkspur Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Level Best Books (December 6, 2022)
Number of Pages ~300
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BHJJ1QRT

She’s used to checking out books. A death? Not so much.

 

Greta Plank, resident librarian in the small, lakeside town of Larkspur, Wisconsin, prefers her rose-tinted glasses extra rosy, thank you very much. Ever since a family tragedy landed her in Larkspur, she’s kept a happy-or-bust outlook. But Greta’s cheery resolve takes a hit when she finds the town recluse dead at the base of the stairs leading from his deck to the lake. What she assumes is a terrible accident Greta soon learns is something more sinister, and to make matters worse, new-to-town Detective Mark McHenry cites her as not only his primary source for the case, but his top suspect.

 

To clear her name and return to life as she knew it before the murder, Greta decides to do some clue cataloging of her own. After all, she’s got her master’s degree in library science with an emphasis in research methodology…how hard could a criminal investigation be? With the help of her fellow librarians and her lawyer mom, Greta begins checking out the pages of the murder, uncovering details about the recluse’s rare book collection and Larkspur’s real estate market as she tries to understand why anyone would have authored his death.

 

But with friends and neighbors stacking up as both victims and suspects, Greta must cross-reference the facts and put a hold on her idyllic worldview if she wants to get the full story without paying the fine of her life.

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Character Interview

Hello! Welcome to Larkspur Community Library. I’m Greta Plank, the director here. I’m so glad you stopped by. I’m just finishing up our Monday Morning Storytime. We host a reading hour for our youngest and most wiggly patrons each week, and it’s one of my favorite library events.

Unlike large branches with designated youth services and children’s librarians, I split the duties with my two co-librarians, Iris and Josie. Maybe someday we’ll hire someone who specializes in this area, but it’s not in the budget right now.

I suppose it’ll be my job to try to figure out our capacity for hiring and future guest services. To be honest, I’m still working to figure out exactly how to navigate my role as director. I’ve only been in the position for four months. I’ve been well received, for the most part, but there are some members of the Library Board with whom I don’t see eye-to-eye.

At this point, I’m choosing my moments so I don’t ruffle any feathers.

I do love spending time in the children’s corner of the library. With the colorful, kid-curated art adorning the walls, the wooden toy train table that’s tarnished with use, and the bin of cheerful stuffed animal puppets over there in the corner, it’s one of the happiest spots in the whole building.

And, as usual, I’m choosing joy this morning. If I’m being completely honest, I needed the children’s story time today more than usual. My dear friend, Franklin, died tragically on Friday. I stumbled upon his body. It’s awful, and I’ll be grieving his loss for a long time.

But this morning, I gladly buried myself in my duties and in the whimsical words of Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. It’s a crowd favorite, and the kids are currently milling about with the dried leaves I handed out after we finished our reading.

Oh dear. Why is Detective McHenry here? How am I just seeing him now? He’s new to town, too. Newer than me, even. And he was first on the scene of Franklin’s death, after me. I can’t argue with the fact that the man is rock solid in a crisis, but I’d rather not be reminded of all that right now. His presence is totally bursting the bubble of happiness I had built up around myself this morning.

Shoot. He’s coming this way. Everyone is staring. No doubt they’re all taking in the badge the detective is wearing on his hip and thinking that I, the woman who appears to be a sweet and innocent librarian, have somehow found myself on the wrong side of the law. Rest assured, I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for why Detective McHenry is gracing me with his presence while I’m at work.

If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have to go and figure this out.

Feel free to make yourself at home in the library. We’ve got something for everyone, and my co-librarians, Josie and Iris, can help you out if I get tied up with the detective. Wish me luck!

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About Leah Dobrinska

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Leah Dobrinska is the author of the Larkspur Library Mysteries, a cozy mystery series set in the Wisconsin Northwoods, and the Mapleton novels, a series of standalone small town romances. She earned her degree in English Literature from UW-Madison and has since worked as a freelance writer, editor, and content marketer. As a kid, she hoped to grow up to be either Nancy Drew or Elizabeth Bennet. Now, she fulfills that dream by writing mysteries and love stories. Death Checked Out is her debut cozy mystery.

A sucker for a good sentence, a happy ending, and the smell of books—both old and new—Leah lives out her very own happily ever after in a small Wisconsin town with her husband and their gaggle of kids. When she’s not writing, handing out snacks, or visiting local parks, Leah enjoys reading and running. Find out more about Leah, join her newsletter community, and connect with her through her website, leahdobrinska.com.

Author Links: Website / Newsletter / Amazon / Facebook / Instagram

TikTok / BookBub / Goodreads

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 12 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW, EXCERPT

December 12 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 12 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

December 13 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW  

December 14 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 15 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

December 15 – Elza Reads – REVIEW

December 16 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

December 16 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT

December 17 – FUONLYKNEW – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 17 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

December 18 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

December 18 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

December 19 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

December 19 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 20 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 20 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 21 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT

December 21 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

December 22 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 22 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 23 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 23 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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The Case Of The Parrot Loving Professor ~ A Buttercup Bend Mystery by Debbie De Louise

Posted: December 13, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, Excerpt, giveaways
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The Case Of The Parrot Loving Professor

A Buttercup Bend Mystery

by Debbie De Louise

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The Case of the Parrot Loving Professor
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Buttercup Bend, a fictional town in the Catskills, New York
Next Chapter Publishing

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 290 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8362515294
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BLMZ5XG9

 

Cathy Carter knew that returning to college would be tough, but she never expected it would involve finding her anthropology professor’s dead body.

 

There are no shortages of suspects in Dr. Bodkin’s murder. Besides his three ex-wives and estranged son and daughter, there are also the members of the Talking Parrots Club, a group of four parrot enthusiasts, of which he was the president and founder.

 

As Cathy delves into Bodkin’s murder, she discovers a relationship between her teacher and the Mennonite family from whom she purchased the farmland for her new pet rescue center. She and her friend Nancy, now employed at a detective agency, work together to help Detective Hunt and Sheriff Miller solve the crime.

Enjoy this peek inside:

From Chapter One:

 

When Bodkin didn’t answer her knock, Cathy tried the doorbell. She’d confirmed their appointment an hour ago by text, so she found it odd that he was taking so long to come to the door. She tried peeking in the window, but the blinds were closed. She rang a second time and, after hearing the bell echo through the house, she also heard what she realized was a bird squawking. She took out her cell phone and called the professor. The call went to voicemail. She considered that something may have come up, but Bodkin’s car was in the driveway.

Feeling apprehensive, she put her hand on the doorknob and pulled. It opened to her touch. Not wanting to disturb the professor’s privacy in case he was busy with something else that had taken precedence over their tutoring session, she hesitated in the doorway. But the persistent squawking of the parrot persuaded her to step into the house. She could’ve sworn that the parrot’s squawks were forming the word, “Help!”

Following the bird’s call, she walked through Bodkin’s home. For a bachelor, he seemed to keep the place neat. Bookcases lined the walls of every room she entered. As she grew closer to where the bird’s sounds were emanating from, his calls for help were clearer. She passed through a door that opened to an enclosed patio. Sitting on a perch in his cage belting his head off, was Charlie, a full-feathered gray African parrot. She noticed him first. What she noticed second was Professor Bodkin laid across the tiled floor, his vacant eyes staring at the bird.

 

About Debbie De Louise

Debbie De Louise is a reference librarian at a public library. She’s the author of 14 novels including the six books of the Cobble Cove cozy mystery series featuring Alicia the librarian and Sneaky, the library cat, and the new Buttercup Bend cozy mysteries featuring Cathy Carter, the owner of a pet cemetery and rescue center. Debbie’s other books include standalone mysteries, a paranormal romance, a time-travel novel, and a collection of cat poems. She also writes articles for Catster.com and has published dozens of short stories and poems in anthologies. She’s a member of the Cat Writers’ Association, Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Long Island Authors Group. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and two cats. Learn more about her and her books by visiting https://debbiedelouise.com.

Author Links: Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up / Facebook / Twitter 

Goodreads / Amazon / All Author / Instagram / LinkedIn / BookBub

Debbie’s Character’s Chat Group

Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog

Purchase Links:  Amazon – Books2Read

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Sleuthing In Stilettos ~ A Resale Boutique Mystery by Debra Sennefelder

Posted: December 10, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
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Sleuthing In Stilettos

A Resale Boutique Mystery

by Debra Sennefelder

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Sleuthing in Stilettos (A Resale Boutique Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Lucky Cove, NY
Lyrical Underground (December 6, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1516111044
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1516111046
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09VCWFVRQ

Kelly Quinn, owner of a high-end consignment shop, is a booster for her Long Island town’s small businesses—but now a store owner’s murder has brought big trouble . . .

 

Locals in Lucky Cove seem to harbor hostility toward Miranda Farrell, proprietor of a new shoe store. Nevertheless, Kelly invites her along to a Chamber of Commerce meeting. But soon afterward, Miranda’s body is found in her shop, with Kelly’s uncle—who’s had multiple public arguments with her—standing nearby. Could her uncle really have committed murder over a business dispute? Or is Miranda’s death related to her late husband’s long-ago embezzlement case?

 

Kelly feels compelled to investigate, despite her detective boyfriend’s objections—not to mention her commitment to promoting Small Business Saturday. But her effort to pump up sales may fall flat. After her presentation to the committee is sabotaged, the Chamber gives her the boot—and tongues start wagging. Now she has to do some fancy footwork to find the killer . . .

About Debra Sennefelder

Debra Sennefelder is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery.

Her first novel, THE UNINVITED CORPSE (A Food Blogger mystery) was published in 2018.When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, where she majored in her hobby of fashion buying, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in retail and publishing before becoming a full-time author. Her writing companion is her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih Tzu, Connie.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads / BookBub / Amazon

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo

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Dumpster Dying ~ A Hazardous Hoarding Mystery by Michelle Bennington

Posted: December 9, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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Dumpster Dying

A Hazardous Hoarding Mystery

by Michelle Bennington

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Dumpster Dying: A Hazardous Hoarder Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Kentucky
Independently Published (September 7, 2022)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8986775203
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BD2PWW61

Birdie Harper is a widowed hoarder who lives with her husband’s ghost. The only thing she enjoys more than a good yard sale is a good dumpster dive. When she finds her latest treasure—a ceramic angel— she knows just who to bring it to.

 

Jenna Lawson is a cashier at the Blue Market convenience store where Birdie often shops. The two women have formed a strong bond to assuage the losses in their lives, and Birdie thinks of Jenna like the daughter she lost long ago. So, when Jenna goes missing, Birdie is determined to find out what happened to her.

 

As she works to unravel the mystery, a man at church, Neville Miller, shows interest in Birdie, leading her to wonder if the lonely days are finally coming to an end. But her ghostly husband, Walter, sure isn’t going to like it.

 

Birdie is on a hunt that may claim the ultimate price—her own life.

 

About Michelle Bennington

Born and raised in the beautiful Bluegrass state of Kentucky, Michelle Bennington developed a passion for books early on that has progressed into a mild hoarding situation and an ever-growing to-read pile. She delights in spinning mysteries and histories. Find out more on her website: www.michellebennington.com

Author Links: Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads / Webpage / Twitter
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Purchase Link – Amazon 

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The Socialite’s Guide To Murder ~ A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery by S. K. Golden

Posted: December 8, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: ,
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The Socialite’s Guide To Murder

A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery

by S. K. Golden

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The Socialite’s Guide to Murder (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York City, 1958
Crooked Lane Books (October 11, 2022)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639101764
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639101764
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09Q7XM28Y

The hotel was her refuge, but scandal is afoot—and a killer stalks the halls in this charming series debut perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver.

 

It’s 1958 and Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy has not left the Pinnacle Hotel in fourteen months. She suffers from agoraphobia, and what’s more, it’s her father’s hotel, and everything she needs is there. Evelyn’s always been good at finding things, she discovered her mother dead in a Manhattan alleyway fifteen years earlier. Now she’s finding trouble inside her sanctuary. At a party for artist Billie Bell, his newest work is stolen, and Evelyn’s fake boyfriend (and real best friend), movie star Henry Fox, is accused of the theft. But just as Evelyn sets out to prove Henry’s innocence, she finds Billie Bell dead.

 

The murder weapon links the crime to the hotel’s chief of security. But why would he use a knife with his initials on the handle? With her beloved home in disarray, Evelyn joins up with hotel employee (and her secret crush) Mac Cooper to get to the bottom of the case.

 

As Mac picks locks and Evelyn snoops around the hotel, they discover the walls around them contain more secrets than they previously knew. Now, Evelyn must force herself to leave the hotel to follow the clues—but when she and Mac set off to chase a lead, their car crashes and they barely escape with their lives. Someone snipped Evelyn’s brake lines, and now the stakes have become dangerously high.

 

Evelyn’s knack for sleuthing—and her playful imagination—are always hard at work, and she throws an elaborate party at the hotel where every guest is a suspect. But will the killer emerge from the glamorous lineup? If not, Evelyn just might find herself…next in line for murder.

About S. K. Golden

Sarah K Golden is the author of the cozy mystery Murder at the Pinnacle Hotel. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku. She graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now. She is currently working on book two in the Evelyn Murphy series.

Author Links: Webpage / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

Purchase Links: 

PenguinRandomHouse – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

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Fairy Garden Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: December 7, 2022 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, Guest Post
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A Sprinkling of Murder

A Fairy Garden Mystery Book 1

by Daryl Wood Gerber

Genre: Paranormal Cozy Mystery

Featured on Buzzfeed Books!

Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly believes in inviting magic into your life. But when uninvited trouble enters her shop, she’ll need more than a sprinkling of her imagination to solve a murder . . .

Since childhood, Courtney has loved fairies. After her mother died when Courtney was ten, she lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, she rediscovered it when she left her father’s landscaping business to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business and teashop in beautiful Carmel, California. At Open Your Imagination, she teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes. Now she’s starting a book club tea.

But the light of the magical world she’s created inside her shop is darkened one night when she discovers neighboring dog-grooming business owner Mick Watkins dead beside her patio fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect Courtney of the crime. To clear her name and find the real killer, Courtney will have to wing it. But she’s about to get a little help from an unexpected source . . .

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A Glimmer of a Clue

A Fairy Garden Mystery Book 2

Courtney Kelly has a shop full of delights, a cat named Pixie, a green thumb—and a magical touch when it comes to garden design. But in Carmel-by-the-Sea, things aren’t all sweetness and fairy lights . . .
When Courtney’s friend Wanda gets into a ponytail-pulling wrestling match in public with a nasty local art critic, Courtney stops the fight with the help of a garden hose. But Lana Lamar has a talent for escalating things and creating tension, which she succeeds in doing by threatening a lawsuit, getting into yet another scuffle—in the midst of an elegant fundraiser, no less—and lobbing insults around like pickleballs.

Next thing Courtney knows, Lana is on the floor, stabbed with a decorative letter opener from one of Courtney’s fairy gardens, and Wanda is standing by asking “What have I done?” But the answer may not be as obvious as it seems, since Wanda is prone to sleepwalking and appears to be in a daze. Could she have risen from her nap and committed murder while unconscious? Or is the guilty party someone else Lana’s ticked off, like her long-suffering husband? To find out, Courtney will have to dig up some dirt . . .

Praise for Daryl Wood Gerber’s A Sprinkling of Murder

“Enchanting series launch from Agatha Award winner Gerber . . . Cozy fans will wish upon a star for more.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A winner. . . . Fans of Laura Childs’ work will enjoy.”
—Booklist

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A Hint of Mischief

A Fairy Garden Mystery Book 3

The proprietor of a fairy garden and tea shop in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Courtney Kelly has an occasional side gig as a sleuth—with a sprinkling of magical assistance. . . .

Courtney has thrown a few fairy garden parties—for kids. But if a local socialite is willing to dip into her trust fund for an old sorority sister’s fortieth birthday bash, Courtney will be there with bells on. To make the job even more appealing, a famous actress, Farrah Lawson, is flying in for the occasion, and there’s nothing like a celebrity cameo to raise a business’s profile.

Now Courtney has less than two weeks to paint a mural, hang up tinkling windchimes, plan party games, and conjure up all the details. While she works her magic, the hostess and her girlfriends head off for an indulgent spa day—which leads to a fateful facial for Farrah, followed by her mysterious death. Could the kindhearted eyebrow waxer who Farrah berated in public really be the killer, as the police suspect? Courtney thinks otherwise, and with the help of her imaginative sleuth fairy, sets out to dig up the truth behind this puzzling murder . . .

Praise for Daryl Wood Gerber’s A Sprinkling of Murder

“Enchanting series launch from Agatha Award winner Gerber. . . . Cozy fans will wish upon a star for more.”
—Publishers Weekly

“A winner. . . . Fans of Laura Childs’ work will enjoy.”
—Booklist

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A Flicker of a Doubt

A Fairy Garden Mystery Book 4

From Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber, the fourth in an enchantingly whimsical series featuring Courtney Kelly, the owner of a fairy-gardening and tea shop in Carmel, California. It’s a special place brimming with good vibes and the kind of magical assistance its proprietor will need to investigate a shocking murder at a prestigious art show!

Making fairy gardens, and teaching crafters how to do the same, keeps Carmel-by-the-Sea shop owner Courtney Kelly busy—but sometimes she has to make time for a wee bit of detective work . . .

With a theater foundation tea and an art show planned at Violet Vickers’s estate, Courtney is hired to create charming fairy gardens for the event. It’s not so charming, however, when her best friend Meaghan’s ex-boyfriend turns out to be Violet’s latest artistic protégé. Even worse, not long after Meaghan locks horns with him, his body is found in her yard, bludgeoned with an objet d’murder.

There’s a gallery of suspects, from an unstable former flame to an arts and crafts teacher with a sketchy past. But when the cops focus on Meaghan’s business partner, who’s like a protective older brother to her, and discover he also has a secret financial motive, Courtney decides to draw her own conclusions. Fearing they’re missing the forest for the trees, and with some help from Fiona the sleuthing fairy, she hopes to make them see the light . . .

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**Coming Soon on March 28, 2023 – PreOrder Now!**

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What’s a Brookie?

The Fairy Garden Mysteries feature Courtney Kelly, the owner of Open Your Imagination, a fairy garden shop in the Cypress and Ivy Courtyard, one of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California’s many courtyards. They also feature Courtney’s sidekick Fiona, a fairy sleuth.  Actually, Fiona is a righteous fairy (there are a few other types). She was kicked out of the fairy kingdom for being a bit of an imp, and now, in order to earn her adult wings and return to the kingdom and because she is a righteous fairy, she has to help humans—in particular, Courtney—solve problems.

Open Your Imagination serves tea on the weekends on the patio and often hosts a book club tea. I love drumming up recipes for the teas. Courtney doesn’t make them all. She can cook, but her friend Yvanna, who works at Sweet Treats, another shop in the courtyard, is a baker. She has dreamed up some deliciousness like lemon cupcakes with lavender icing, cinnamon swirl scones, and now brookies, a delicious brownie cookie that has won the hearts of all of Courtney’s customers. Actually, Courtney’s best friend Meaghan came up with the recipe and shared it with Yvanna, but Yvanna has tweaked it to perfection.

I’d like to share it with you.

BROOKIE

(Yield 20-24)

For the cookie layer:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1 1/4  cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

For the brownie layer:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, if desired

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish.

To make the cookie layer:

In a large bowl, beat softened butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and egg.

Whisk flour, salt, and baking soda together in a small bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir until combined. Stir chocolate chips into the dough. Spread mixture evenly into the bottom of the 9 x 13 dish.

To make the brownie layer:

In a large bowl, stir sugar, melted butter, and vanilla.  Add in eggs and beat well.  Mix in cocoa powder and mix well. Add flour, baking powder, and salt to the cocoa mixture.  Mix well. If desired, stir in the extra chocolate chips. Pour brownie mixture over cookie dough and spread to cover completely.

Bake the brookie in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes, before cutting into bars.

If you want the gluten-free version of this recipe, write me at daryl@darylwoodgerber.com to request it. 

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Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling Fairy Garden Mysteries, Cookbook Nook Mysteries, and French Bistro Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes the Aspen Adams Novels of Suspense as well as stand-alone suspense. Daryl loves to cook, fairy garden, and read. She has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line. And she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and hitch-hike around Ireland alone. You can learn more on her website: https://darylwoodgerber.com

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