Posts Tagged ‘cozy mystery’

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A Jewel of a Crime: A Venus Bixby Mystery
by Valerie Taylor


A Jewel of a Crime: A Venus Bixby Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Set in Chatham Crossing, a fictional whaling town between Providence and Cape Cod
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aspetuck Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 2, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 322 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8986599564
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GVPVMJBS
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8986599571
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GRCG64BR

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With green streaks in her hair and “Rock the Shamrock” polish on her nails, Venus Bixby is ready to trade dance recitals for airplane tickets.

After selling her dance studio, she has a brand-new plan: travel the world and recover stolen art. But life deals Venus an unexpected card. When she pulls back a curtain in the studio and finds the new owner dead on the couch, her next adventure becomes a very public nightmare.

With Chatham Crossing’s whisper mill in overdrive, Venus is now a prime suspect (because of course she is). In the process of clearing her name, she discovers her late husband secretly bought an emerald ring—and now it’s missing.
As burglaries ripple through this charming town, Venus wonders if the studio owner’s death and the missing emerald are part of the same glittering crime spree.

Between gossiping neighbors, buried secrets, and one very inconvenient corpse, Venus will need sharp instincts—and maybe a touch of Irish luck—to solve the case before her passport dreams are grounded for good.

A Jewel of a Crime is book three in the Venus Bixby Mystery series. Expect cozy clues, small-town charm, amateur sleuthing, cats, and a mystery that keeps sparkling with surprises.

Includes cookie recipes and an oldies playlist!

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About Author Valerie Taylor

Valerie Taylor considers herself an “average Jane.” She might remind you of a reclusive neighbor who’s secretly writing her next novel. Unlike many of the writers she admires, she doesn’t hold a degree in literature. Instead, she credits her love of storytelling to a steady diet of classic comedy and suspense.

She’s the award-winning author of the romantic comedy trilogy What’s Not Said, What’s Not True, and What’s Not Lost, as well as of the first two books in the Venus Bixby cozy mystery series, A Whale of a Murder and Switched at Death. Her affinity for humor and whodunits was shaped early on by watching Carol Burnett, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, and The Twilight Zone.

When she’s not writing, Valerie enjoys oldies music, a passion sparked by hours growing up spent listening and dancing to Elvis Presley and The Beatles—and by proudly belonging to the Bobby Darin fan club.

Valerie lives close to her family in Connecticut.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / SubStack

Purchase Links
Amazon Print Book
Amazon eBook

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 19 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – REVIEW

June 19 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

June 20 – Baseball, Books, and Banter podcast – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 22 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

June 23 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 24 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 25 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 26 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

June 27 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 28 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

June 29 – Romance Novel Giveaways – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 30 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

July 1 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

July 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

RECIPE FOR MURDER BANNER 640.

Recipe for Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery)
by Marla A. White

 


Recipe for Murder (A Pine Cove Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Pine Cove, a fictional version of Idyllwild, tiny town on top of a Southern California mountain
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wild Rose Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 17, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1509265759
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509265756
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1509265763
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GTRJ24MV

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Mel O’Rourke traded her LAPD badge for the quiet life, running a bed-and-breakfast in tiny, quirky Pine Cove.

But when Jackson Thibodeaux, the charming café owner who broke her heart, stumbles back into town, her tranquil second act is toast. While attending a culinary academy in New Orleans, Jackson found the body of a classmate. The police rule it a suicide, but Mel’s instincts—and Jackson’s near miss with a bullet—scream murder.
Between a cooking school full of shady suspects, a reformed cat burglar for a sidekick, and a complicated love triangle involving the deputy sheriff, Mel has her hands full.

Perfect for fans of the sweetness of Jenn McKinlay and the snark of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan.

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About Author Marla A. White

Marla White kills people for a living—on paper, at least.

An award-winning mystery and suspense author with roots in Hollywood, Marla White made a striking debut with Cause for Elimination, earning recognition from Killer Nashville, the RONE Awards, Reader’s Favorite, and a second-place finish with the Orange County Romance Writers in Romantic Suspense.

Originally from Oklahoma, Marla carved her path through multiple states before landing in Los Angeles, where she built a career in television development and now teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension—including the fine art of script coverage and story analysis.

When she’s not plotting her next murder (fictional, we promise), she can be found in her garden, on a hiking trail, cheering for the LA Kings, or field-testing craft cocktails in the name of research.

Social Media Links: Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Threads / TikTok

Goodreads / BookBub / Amazon / Substack

Purchase Links :
Amazon –  Barnes&Noble   –  Apple BooksGoodReadsAllAuthorBooks2ReadBook Bub

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 10 – Jody’s Bookish Haven– SPOTLIGHT

June 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 12 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen– SPOTLIGHT

June 13 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews– SPOTLIGHT

June 14 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

June 15 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

June 16 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT  

June 17 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 18 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

June 18 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 19 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 20 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 22 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

June 23 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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A Cultivated Corpse (A Food Blogger Mystery)
by Debra Sennefelder

Cozy Mystery
9th in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beyond the Page Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 238 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1966322577
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1966322573
Digital
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 16, 2026
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1966322566
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0H2797BZQ

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When the local garden club president is killed, food blogger Hope Early will have to dig through the clues to catch a killer . . .

The Jefferson Garden Club’s annual plant sale is just around the corner, but Hope Early and other members of the club are more focused on the garden restoration project at Ambrose House. The gorgeous landscaping promises to help return the stately old house to its former glory, but rumors are surfacing of unexplained delays and exorbitant costs. Then the club’s president is found dead amid signs of foul play, and Hope can’t ignore the uneasy feeling that the victim was silenced for something she knew about the renovations.

Certain that the solution to the murder is tied to the garden project and the club’s recent financial struggles, Hope begins to go through their books and uncovers more than mismatched numbers. A tangle of transactions points to an intricate embezzlement scheme, but before she can weed out who’s behind it, a local reporter chasing the same story is killed. It’s clear now that someone is dead-set on keeping the truth buried, and Hope will have to unearth a vital piece of evidence before the killer decides it’s time to bury her as well . . .

Includes mouthwatering recipes!

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About Author Debra Sennefelder

 

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Debra Sennefelder lives and writes in Connecticut, where she lives with her family and slightly spoiled Shih Tzu. An avid reader across a range of genres, mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. She’s the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series and the Resale Boutique Mystery series. When she’s not writing, she’s either baking or reading. To learn more, visit her on the web at www.debrasennefelder.com

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Food Blogger Mysteries

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If you love cozy mysteries with a foodie twist, the Food Blogger Mysteries are for you. Follow food blogger Hope Early as she juggles baking, blogging, and uncovering secrets in the charming town of Jefferson, Connecticut. Each book delivers:

  • Amateur sleuthing with humor and heart
  • Recipes from Hope’s kitchen
  • Small-town friendships (and rivalries!)
  • Seasonal settings — from Halloween to Christmas

Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, Jenn McKinlay, Ellie Alexander, and Peg Cochran, this series combines delicious food with puzzling whodunits.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads

Purchase Links – AmazonB&NKobo

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 8 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

June 9 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

June 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 10 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

June 11 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 12 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 13 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

June 14 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

June 15 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

June 15 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 16 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 17 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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

June 18 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

June 19 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 20 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 21 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 22 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Purple, Blame, Game: Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery
by Joanna Campbell Slan


Purple, Blame, Game: Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
21st in Series
Setting – St. Louis, Missouri
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spot On Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 2, 2026
Number of Pages – coming soon
Digital
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GPQFM5GT
Other Formats Available Soon.

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No good deed goes unpunished…

Kiki Lowenstein is used to juggling crafts, customers, and chaos—but she never expected her latest charity project to lead to murder.

When Kiki offers free crochet classes to make stuffed animals for hospitalized children, the project seems like the perfect way to give back. But tensions quickly rise among her students, and a heated confrontation sparks rumors, accusations, and a social media frenzy that threatens to destroy lives.

Then everything takes a deadly turn.

On a foggy Mardi Gras morning, Kiki discovers the body of Celeste Harrow behind her store.

Suddenly, Kiki is caught in a tangled web of secrets, lies, and motives. The victim had made enemies. Plenty of them. And now, Kiki must figure out who turned a good deed into a deadly game—before suspicion lands squarely on her.

With her business at risk, her family in the spotlight, and a determined detective asking hard questions, Kiki must rely on her instincts (and a little help from her friends) to uncover the truth.

Because in this cozy mystery, nothing is as harmless as it seems…

Perfect for fans of:

• Cozy mysteries with strong female sleuths

• Crafting, crochet, and creative communities

• Fast-paced whodunits with humor and heart

• Series like Hannah Swensen, Aurora Teagarden, and Tea Shop Mysteries

A Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery — can be enjoyed as a standalone!

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About Author Joanna Campbell Slan 

Joanna Campbell Slan is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author of nearly 80 books, known for her page-turning cozy mysteries and emotionally rich women’s fiction. Her stories blend amateur sleuths, strong female friendships, humor, and heart—earning praise from Publishers Weekly as “a cut above the usual craft-themed cozy.”

Best known for her long-running Kiki Lowenstein Mystery Series (Agatha Award finalist), Joanna creates unforgettable characters who grow, adapt, and triumph. Her popular Cara Mia Delgatto Mysteries, set on Florida’s Treasure Coast, and her award-winning Jane Eyre Chronicles—recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence—showcase her range across contemporary, historical, and literary-inspired suspense.

Joanna’s books resonate with readers who love:

  • Cozy mysteries with strong female protagonists
  • Craft-themed and small-town settings
  • Stories about friendship, reinvention, and second chances
  • Clean mysteries with humor, heart, and suspense

In addition to fiction, Joanna is an internationally recognized teacher and author of nonfiction books on public speaking and crafting. Her work has been praised by top communication experts, and she has contributed to the beloved Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

A native Floridian, Joanna lives on Florida’s Treasure Coast, where she draws inspiration from coastal life, creativity, and her passion for crafts like Zentangle®, crochet, and upcycling.

Her mission: to make the world a better place—one story at a time.

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

Learn more about Joanna here—linktr.ee/jcslan

Website / Substack / Amazon / BookBub / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Goodreads

Purchase Link – Amazon

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 3 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

June 4 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

June 5 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

June 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

June 7 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 8 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 9 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 10 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – RECIPE

June 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 12 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 13 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

June 14 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 15 – Carla Loves To Read – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 15 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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A Necessary Death
by Terri Karsten


A Necessary Death
Historical Cozy Mystery
Setting – A tavern in Colonial Pennsylvania (1764)
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wagonbridge Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 15, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1953444202
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1953444202
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1953444219
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FLDWVCJW

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With Penelope Corbitt in the kitchen, the tavern will never be the same.

Penelope Corbitt can turn a lump of meat and a bit of flour into a mouth-watering pie or make a tasty meal of cabbage and vinegar. But all her skill can’t save her family in the spring of 1763, when she loses everything to pay off her missing husband’s debts. Walking a tightrope between the freedom of poverty and the confines of propriety, she must accept her stingy brother-in-law’s reluctant charity to keep her family fed and her children close. The miserable journey north from Philadelphia is interrupted when the coach crashes in the mud. Penelope and her children are stranded at a run-down tavern. Penelope doesn’t think things can get worse.

Then she finds a dead man.

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About Author Terri Karsten

Living in the shadow of the Mississippi River bluffs, Terri Karsten has been a writer and educator for many years. She grew up in sunny San Jose, California, playing amid the cherry orchards that soon gave way to houses. In her search for education and adventure, she lived in Iowa and Wisconsin, Mexico and France, before settling into a hundred-year-old house in Winona, Minnesota. She spends most days in her tiny office, surrounded by books, papers, and good memories.

With more ideas than time, Terri writes a bit of everything, ranging from historical fiction novels to picture book folktales to dozens of short stories and articles in magazines, encyclopedias, and newspapers.

When she is not writing, Terri loves poring over old cookbooks and recreating dishes from long ago, especially medieval, Renaissance, and colonial foods. Always ready for the next adventure, she enjoys camping, hiking, and traveling. Her latest goal is to visit National Parks in every state. Only 13 states to go!

Author Links: Website / Facebook / SubStack / Goodreads 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

June 4 – Salty Inspirations – RECIPE

June 4 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 5 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

June 6 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT

June 6 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW 

June 7 – Deal Sharing Aunt – RECIPE

June 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 8 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – RECIPE

June 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

June 9 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

June 10 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

June 11 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 11 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

June 12 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

June 12 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 13 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

June 13 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
by Rose Kerr

 


Death of an Antiquarian: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Lakeview City, Ontario, Canada (loosely based on Toronto, Canada)
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 16, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
Paperback
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8898201159
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GHSW122X

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When archaeologist Dr. Mia Reid takes a contract position at the Lakeview City Museum, she expects artifacts, exhibitions, and research notes, not murder. The death of a local antique dealer, with unexpected ties to artifact smuggling, draws Mia into a dangerous mystery.

As chatter of an international smuggling ring surfaces, Mia and Luke race to uncover the truth. The stakes rise when threats reach her—and her beloved grandmother.

With lives in jeopardy and artifacts at risk of vanishing forever into the black market, Mia must use all her skills to piece together the puzzle. Can she expose a killer before the next artifact or person disappears?

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About Author Rose Kerr

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Retired in Southern Ontario with her husband, Rose spends her days crafting mysteries featuring strong, smart women who use their resourcefulness to solve crimes. When she’s not writing, she enjoys discovering the hidden gems of the region and indulging her lifelong curiosity.

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

Purchase Links:  Amazon  Barnes and Noble    Kobo    Bookshop.org

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

June 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 1 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

June 2 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

June 2 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 3 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

June 3 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – SPOTLIGHT

June 4 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

June 5 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

June 6 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book -SPOTLIGHT

June 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 8 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

June 8 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

June 9 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

June 10 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 11 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 12 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club by Bill Cusano Banner

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THE OLD CRANBERRY LADIES GARDEN CLUB
by Bill Cusano
June 1 – July 10, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

 

THE GHOST AND THE KEY

With a pitchfork through the man’s groin and another through his chest, it is clear that someone had murdered Chester H. Cranberry. It’s not something that could have happened accidentally. But that was 192 years ago. As Mildred Cranberry, the current family matriarch, puts it, “We have two women, two keys, two pitchforks, and one dead two-timing man.” Who in their right mind would want to dig up that cold case and try to solve it? It’s not like the murderer could be prosecuted in 2024, right? But what if a key piece of evidence can be dug up (literally)? And what if a descendant of Chester’s illegitimate child can get her hands on it? Mildred will need more than the Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club members to solve this bizarre case. The spiritual support she needs may not be what she expects when the ghost of Elcira Cranberry, the widow murderess herself, arrives to do what? Tell the truth or protect her reputation?

The Ladies Garden Club of Old Cranberry, Connecticut, has a 200-year history that has remained shrouded in secrecy for so long, it has been lost to history, until now. Elcira Cranberry and freedwoman Deborah Townsend knew the men of the town would have no interest in a garden club, so it was the perfect cover for their secret organization. Now, nearly two centuries later, the current members have no idea what those ladies were up to in the early 1800s, right here in Connecticut. But the secret will soon be out.

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THE WIDOW MURDERESS

Connecticut, 1833. A year after Chester Cranberry’s unsolved murder, the town that he founded continues to suspect that his wife, Elcira, ended his life. With insufficient evidence to bring her to trial, and little effort to find another suspect, the town gossip labels her “The Widow Murderess.” But Elcira has seven children to feed, ranging in age from three to nine, and her nanny, Deborah, a freed slave, is pregnant with her husband’s illegitimate child. All eyes are on these two women, expecting them to fail to keep the farm and the family together. When the general store cuts off Elcira’s credit and refuses to sell anything her farm produces, the alliance between Elcira and Deborah grows stronger, and the women set out to do something unthinkable, something that can cause one to be whipped and the other thrown in jail. They opened their home to runaway slaves seeking freedom along a secret route north. Behind the facade of a ladies’ garden club, the women run a clandestine school, teaching the formerly enslaved and runaways to read and write-a dangerous act that could destroy everything she’s built.

When a mysterious murder during a violent storm brings old secrets to light, the truth about Chester’s death threatens to surface. With the town’s suspicions mounting and powerful enemies closing in, Elcira must decide how much she’s willing to risk to protect those she loves and maintain the underground railroad that runs through her land.

A gripping historical novel about courage, family, and the price of freedom in pre-Civil War New England, The Widow Murderess explores how one woman’s determination to survive becomes a beacon of hope for those seeking liberty.

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THE SPARROW AND THE CROW

The last time the crows circled the old farmhouse, her husband Chester was found dead and the town named her a murderess. Thirty years later, the truth she buried with him is stirring again, the country is splitting in two, and the family she fought so hard to hold together is being pulled apart by a war that hasn’t yet been declared. Her grandson Auggie wants to fight for the Union. His mother, born to a Virginia plantation family, will do anything to drag him south instead. Millie — the rector’s daughter with golden hair and a satchel full of letters — waits at home for a boy who may never come back. And in the chapel behind the lilacs, Elcira and the women of her garden club continue the work no one is supposed to know about: sheltering freedom seekers as slave catchers tighten their grip on the Connecticut coast. Then a telegram arrives. And another. And the war everyone said would never come has come for the Cranberry’s all at once.  

Perfect for readers of Kristin Hannah, Marie Benedict, Paulette Jiles, and Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain — a story about what families inherit, what they hide, and what they’re willing to risk when the country they believed in begins to come apart.

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

Published by: 4610 Publishing

Series: The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club

 

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About Author Bill Cusano:

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Bill Cusano

Bill Cusano is an author, a retired deacon in the Episcopal Church and a believer that it is the process rather than the outcomes that matter most in our lives. Retired from the corporate world and an eight-year stint running a non-profit feeding program, Bill attacks every project as a ministry, giving it his full commitment. Needing to readjust to life after losing the love of his life to leukemia in April of 2024, Bill returned to writing full-time, resulting in The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club series, the motivation and inspiration for which came from his wife’s voracious appetite for reading historical fiction. While this is Bill’s debut novel, he has always been a writer, publishing short stories and poems early on, and then beginning a daily spiritual blog in 2008. You can follow Bill’s Reflections From The Garden Bench along with other writings on his Substack account.

Catch Up With Bill Cusano:

BillCusano.com Bill’s Substack Amazon Author Profile Goodreads – @billcusano Instagram – @billcusano X – @CusanoBill Facebook – @bill.cusano

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Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win! Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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The Corpse by the Creek: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery

by Iris March


The Corpse by the Creek: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series (plus 2 short stories)
Setting – Ohio
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wandering Gingko Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 2, 2026
Number of Pages ~200 pages
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8998642616
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GS6S4HB6
Paperback will be available as well.

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Volunteer water sampling. Development deals. A dead businessman in the woods.

While volunteering with a local stream restoration group, Molly and her husband, Scott, expect to end the day with nothing more to show for it than muddy hiking shoes and water samples. Instead, they stumble upon a dead body left in the woods behind the Buckeye Trail. The victim turns out to be Upton North—an unpopular developer with business ties to half the town and enemies to match.

As Molly starts asking questions, she uncovers a web of grudges involving tenants, activists, and business owners. She’ll have to follow clues from forest trails to forgotten basements—and confront just how far greed and intimidation pushed the wrong person too far.

With a busy garden center to manage, and a beloved black and white cat occasionally underfoot, Molly digs into another Succulent Sleuth case where the roots of the crime run deep.

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About Author Iris March

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Iris March has a reputation for killing house plants, and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.

Author Links: BlueSky / Instagram / Facebook / Website

Purchase Links- AmazonBooks 2 Read

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 25 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

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May 26 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 26 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews– SPOTLIGHT

May 27 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT  

May 27 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

May 28 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

May 28 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

May 29 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 29 – Twirling Book Princess – SPOTLIGHT

May 29 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

May 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

May 30 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

May 30 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

May 31 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

May 31 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

June 1 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

June 1 – deal sharing aunt – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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The Diva Hosts a Murderer (A Domestic Diva Mystery)
by Krista Davis


The Diva Hosts a Murderer (A Domestic Diva Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
19th in Series
Setting – Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 26, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496743482
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496743480
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496743503
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FP7LXJ8C
Audiobook
ASIN B0FVW9XKRW

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Old Town Virginia’s entertaining guru and occasional sleuth Sophie Winston – a young Martha Stewart in the making – juggles Fourth of July fireworks, a houseful of guests, and homicide in the latest Domestic Diva culinary mystery from New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis.

With a big crowd descending on her Northern Virginia home, it’s a good thing event planner Sophie Winston is an expert at entertaining. Whipping up patriotic pastries is as easy as pie for her, though meeting the man her widowed Aunt Melly just impulsively married in Las Vegas is a little more awkward. Especially when Melly’s longtime, now-heartbroken secret admirer is there too, which could lead to some fireworks.

But the house party really gets explosive when Sophie’s favorite tour guide falls victim to a killer—and evidence points to Sophie’s own father. Will DNA really incriminate her dad? And what’s the real story with her new uncle-by-marriage and the mysterious pal he’s brought along with him? Some of the secrets Sophie’s discovering are raising flags—and while the police department casts suspicion on her father, she has to declare her independence as a detective to find the real culprit, and serve justice along with her red, white, and blue cupcakes . . .

Includes delicious recipes, fabulous decorating tips, and easy entertaining hacks!

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Blueberry Buckle

I can’t get enough of this blueberry buckle! It’s overloaded with blueberries and simply delicious.

 

Blueberry Buckle

8×8 baking pan

1 ½ cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup butter at room temperature + 1 teaspoon for greasing the pan

1 large egg

½ cup milk

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ½ cups blueberries

Topping:

4 tablespoons butter, softened

¼ cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons white sugar

½ cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 and grease the pan with 1 teaspoon of butter.

In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Cream the sugar with the ¼ cup butter. Add the egg. Alternate adding the milk and the flour mixture. Mix in the lemon juice and the vanilla. Stir in the blueberries. Pour into the prepared pan and prepare the topping.

In a medium bowl, add the butter, sugars, flour, and cinnamon. Use your fingers to mix them. Sprinkle over the batter. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

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About Author Krista Davis

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New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis writes the Domestic Diva Mystery series. Krista lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with two cats and a brood of dogs. Her friends and family complain about being guinea pigs for her recipes, but she notices they keep coming back.

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

Delicious Mysteries

Purchase Links
Amazon   Apple     Barnes & Noble   Books A Million   Bookshop   Hudson Booksellers  Indigo   Rakuten Kobo    Tantor Audio    Target     Walmart

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 26 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

May 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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May 28 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 29 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

May 29 – FUONLYKNEW – RECIPE

May 30 – Reading Is My SuperPower – RECIPE

May 31 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

June 1 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW

June 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

June 3 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – REVIEW

June 4 – @review_thick_and_thin – REVIEW

June 5 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

June 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

June 6 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

June 7 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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