Book Review and Giveaway - The Case of the Christie Conspiracy: A Detection Club Mystery by Kelly Oliver

My Review

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy is a new historical mystery set in 1926.  Eliza Baker goes to work as assistant to mystery author Dorothy L. Sayers.  Eliza goes to a Detection Club meeting with Dorothy - attended by the most famous mystery authors in 1920's London - and there is a murder!  Eliza works to solve the mystery with the help of aspiring author Theo.  And then Agatha Christie goes missing ...

I wanted to read this book because I love historical fiction, cozy mysteries, and the 1920's time period.  I have some familiarity with Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, and found myself happily googling other famous names mentioned in the book.  (I love when this happens because of a historical novel!)

This is a wonderful start for a new series.  I like Eliza and also like the detection team of Eliza and Theo working together.  I love all their interactions with each other too.

The mystery aspect of this book was well written and there were a number of unexpected clues and twists in the book!

I look forward to the next book in this series, and recommend The Case of the Christie Conspiracy for other cozy mystery fans - especially for anyone who loves historical mysteries and classic 1920's mystery authors.

Book Synopsis

Agatha Christie is about to embark on a new, gripping murder case. But this time, she’s not the author – she’s a suspect…

1926 – Christie is a darling of the literary circuit and the most desired guest in London’s glittering social scene. She can often be found at meetings of the Detection Club – where mystery writers come together to share ideas, swap secrets and drink copiously. But then a fellow author’s initiation ceremony takes a gruesome turn, and one of the group ends up dead. Now, Agatha is no longer just the creator of great mystery plots – she’s a player in one.

And when Agatha disappears the day after the murder, she’s widely assumed to be guilty. Only Eliza Baker, assistant to the Club’s enigmatic secretary, Dorothy Sayers, is interested in investigating the case. But in a world where murder is the ultimate plot device, can Eliza piece together the evidence and find the killer before it’s too late?

Author Bio

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning and bestselling author of four mystery series: The Jessica James Mysteries (7-book contemporary suspense); The Pet Detective Mysteries (3-book middle grade); The Fiona Figg Mysteries (9-book historical cozies).

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, the first in her new series The Detection Club Mysteries just came out (February 2025).

Kelly is Distinguished Emerita Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. And currently, she is the Immediate Past President of Sisters in Crime. To learn more about Kelly and her books, go to www.kellyoliverbooks.com.

Author Links

Website   https://www.kellyoliverbooks.com

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/kellyoliverauthor/

BookBub    https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kelly-oliver

 Twitter/X   @kellyoliverbook

 TikTok  https://www.tiktok.com/@kellyoliverbooks

 Instagram  @kellyoliverbooks

 Purchase Links

Amazon US –   Amazon C

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Book Review and Giveaway - Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory

My Review

Dani Delaney is snowed in with her friends at her Long Island malt shop.  When a Youtube influencer comes in to escape the storm and try her food, she also tries to extort Dani in exchange for a favorable online review.  The unpleasant woman is found dead shortly after this, and Dani works with her friends to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries and have enjoyed the Coffee & Cream Cafe mystery series.  

This was a fun read.  I was so engrossed in the story that I read in all my spare time, wanting to know who did it.  I suspected the murderer and enjoyed Dani's detecting.

Dani has gotten bolder as an amateur detective and found herself in a couple of dangerous situations in this book as a result.  I really like the way she works with her best friends and sister to solve the mysteries - they make such a great team.

I also enjoyed Dani's evolving romance with police detective Jake!  They make a great couple.

I recommend Soft Serve Sleighing - and this entire series - for fans of cozy mysteries.  It's one of my favorite cozy series and I never miss a book.

Book Synopsis

From author Lena Gregory comes a delightfully delicious cozy mystery…

With most of Eastern Long Island closed down for a blizzard, Danika Delaney and her friends are holed up in her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, with ice cream and hot chocolate. However, their plans to wait out the storm in cozy company are interrupted when a popular YouTuber and her two companions show up at the door—they’ve been trapped by the storm, and Dani generously offers to serve them breakfast. But her generosity isn’t rewarded in kind, as the reviewer then tries to extort money from Dani in exchange for a good review! When the storm finally clears, Dani is happy to have seen the last of them.

Or so she thought.

Dani and her friends decide to go sleigh riding the morning after the storm clears, but instead of a winter wonderland, they find the extorting YouTuber…dead! To make matters worse, Dani suddenly finds herself accused of the woman’s murder. Intent on restoring her reputation, Dani sets out to prove she didn’t do it. This is one storm she’s not sure she can weather…

Author Bio

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

• Newsletter: http://lenagregory.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9765d0711ed4fab4fa31b16ac&id=49d42335d1.
• Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lena.gregory.986
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Lena.Gregory.Author/?fref=ts
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LenaGregory03
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory?from_search=true
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lenagregoryauth/

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Book Review and Giveaway - Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait

My Review

Antiques expert Dotty Sayers is back in the Cotswolds at the auction house where she started out.  She participates in a Scottish Burns Night dinner, and one of the participants is poisoned.  When the auction house is mentioned in the press, she goes to work to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read Tartan, Treasures, and Trouble because I absolutely love the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series.  I have recommended this series to several friends.  I love the cozy storytelling, the quaint British village settings, and the details about antiques in these books.

This is a charming entry into the series.  Dotty's romance with Zach, an American who is researching his mysterious ancestry, moves along, and we see her familiar friends and family - and her cat Earl Grey! - in this book.

The mystery is well paced, with short chapters and smart, descriptive, storytelling.  I solved the mystery mid-way through the book but certainly enjoyed Dotty's work as an amateur detective.

The details of a Burns Night celebration were interesting, and I loved the great foodie details in this book.  I made note of a few of them to look up later.  I am intrigued by the mention of a cheese and chutney sandwich, and hope I can find a recipe for that online!

I highly recommend Tartan, Treasures, and Trouble - and this entire series - for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys British village settings.

Book Synopsis

When murder is served at a Scottish Burns supper, it’s not the haggis that hides the deadliest secret. Can an amateur sleuth catch the killer before they toast another victim?

Antiques expert, Dotty Sayers, is thrilled to return to the Cotswolds to reconnect with old friends and run the auction house where her career began. She and her friend, Sergeant Keya Varma, organise a traditional Burns Night celebration, but things go awry when one of their guests meets his end before the first whisky is poured.

When the new police inspector is pushed aside by headquarters before she can crack the case, Dotty can’t resist following her own leads. As she digs deeper, she uncovers the victim’s tangled relationships, jealous spouses, and shady business dealings. But when a sensational newspaper article exposes the case, it threatens not only the investigation but also the auction house which Dotty has just been trusted to manage.

Can Dotty solve the case, or will the truth be drowned out by the skirl of the bagpipes?

Author Bio

Victoria Tait was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. She’s drawn on her life’s experiences and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.

Her determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and her settings are vivid and evocative.  As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.

Author Links

Website     BookBub    Instagram    Pinterest    Goodreads 

Purchase Links

Books 2 Read  Amazon

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Book Review and Giveaway - Murder in Season (A Lady of Letters Mystery) by Mary Winters

My Review

In 1860 London, Amelia Amesbury is living a quiet life and secretly writing an agony aunt column for the local newspaper.  When her sister Margaret ("Madge) comes to town, everything changes.  She throws a party and her sister has words with a disagreeable male guest - who ends up dying suddenly.  Amelia works to solve the murder and to chaperone her sister in London, all while moving along in her  flirtation with Simon Bainbridge.

I wanted to read Murder in Season because I love historical mysteries, cozy mysteries, and have enjoyed the earlier books in this series.

I think this is my favorite book yet in the Lady of Letters mystery series!  Amelia has really come into her own as an advice columnist and I love the letters and replies that begin each chapter of the book - often tying in to the storyline in some way.

The mystery aspect of this story was well done.  I guessed as Amelia detected and she solved the mystery before I did!  

Of course I also love all scenes with Amelia and Simon!  I look forward to reading the next book in this series and finding out what happens next.

I recommend Murder in Season for fans of cozy mysteries and especially for anyone who loves historical fiction.  This entire series is so unique and delightful!

Book Synopsis

Join Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury as she tries to juggle a new Season and a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.

“A beautiful debutante, a wealthy widow, and a dead would-be baron. What could be more exciting?”

Countess by day, secret advice columnist by night, Amelia Amesbury has life happily balanced on a quill’s edge . . . until her sister Margaret shows up in London under a blanket of scandal and Amelia is catapulted out of mourning and into the ton’s unforgiving Season.

However Madge’s Season debut is marred by a rather inconvenient death at the dining table as the infamous Mr Radcliffe takes ill and is later confirmed dead by poisoning. With Madge being the last person to have cross words with the soon-to-be baron, the ton’s gossip mill – and the police – are looking to pin the murder on her.

Adding to the ton’s troubles is a jewellery thief targeting the most lavish of Society’s houses. Is the murderer and the thief one in the same? It falls to Amelia once again to uncover the secrets buried deep within the pages before her sister goes down for the crimes.

Perfect for fans of witty historical mystery and Regency romances with a similar feel to Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey.

Author Bio

Mary Winters is the Edgar Award-nominated author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series. Book one, Murder in Postscript, was a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Mary is also the author of two cozy mystery series and writes short fiction. Three of her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. When she’s not writing, she’s teaching, reading, or spending time with her family. She lives with her husband, daughters, and spoiled pets in the Midwest. Find out more about Mary at MaryWintersAuthor.com.

Author Links

Website http://www.Marywintersauthor.com

Blog http://www.Marywintersauthor.com/blog

Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/marywintersauthor

Instagram http://www.Instagram.com/marywintersauthor

Purchase Links
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop

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Book Review and Giveaway - A Perilous Premiere (Stone & Steele Mysteries) by Gail Meath

My Review

A Perilous Premiere is set in Hollywood in 1938.  Vivian Steele is a fashion designer with her own boutique.  When her husband is shot on the street, her life changes unimaginably.  She discovers he was keeping secrets, and she is thrown together with Hollywood playboy Preston Stone.  Suddenly they are both in danger and racing to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries, enjoy historical mysteries, and am a big fan of classic movies and old time Hollywood.

This was a delightful start to a new series!  Vivian is a fresh, smart protagonist.  I love her back and forth with Preston and especially enjoyed their scenes together.  

The classic Hollywood references - both places and people - are delightful.  Vivian is good friends with Carole Lombard, who plays a part in the story.  She also has a lovable Boston Terrier and there is a Saint Bernard in the book as well.

I loved that the chapters had descriptive titles and even pictures that helped set the scene!  This is unique and added to my enjoyment of the book.

As a mystery, A Perilous Premiere is fast paced with some twists and surprises along the way.

I enthusiastically recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for readers who enjoy old time Hollywood.

Book Synopsis

Solving their own murders is the least of their problems…and the beginning of Stone & Steele, a reluctant yet surprisingly skilled investigative team.

The Golden Age of Hollywood, 1938. Vivian Steele moved to California to start a new life. She opened a fashion boutique in Beverly Hills, befriended Carole Lombard, the actress, and married a successful banker. But when her husband is murdered, Vivian discovers she isn’t the only one hiding a few secrets.

An anonymous phone call lures Vivian to a plush hotel room where she stumbles upon the dead body of a beautiful young actress – her husband’s mistress. To add fuel to the fire, she’s not alone.

Preston Stone, her adversary and Hollywood’s notorious playboy, is standing beside her. Suspiciously, they part ways only to find themselves alone again at a movie premiere two days later, and the message becomes brutally clear. They’re both the next targets of a cold-blooded killer.

Together, Vivian and Preston are thrown into a deadly race to find a missing collection of valuable coins and stop a vicious killer before they become the next murder victims. But first, they need to stop pointing their fingers at each other.

A Perilous Premiere is the first book in this exciting new 1930s Stone & Steele mystery series starring a great cast of characters ranging from the rich and famous to Bella, a Boston Terrier, her new friend, Boris, a Saint Bernard, and a few other endearing folks. (A pretty clean read)

Author Bio

Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, the fun series about of a wise-cracking PI, his sweet German Shepherd partner, Ace, and his Broadway singing heartthrob, Laura, as they solve crazy crimes during the Roaring Twenties. She’s currently working on the first book in her exciting new 1930s mystery series, Stone & Steele Mysteries, takes place during the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood. As always, she blends the most loveable characters with a good, solid mystery.

Gail also has a growing list of other award-winning historical romances, mysteries, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and their sweet, little Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren.

Author Links

Website:  https://www.gailmeath.com

Facebook:  https://facebook.com/gailmeathauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gailmeathauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220631482-a-perilous-premiere

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/a-perilous-premiere-by-gail-meath

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org – 

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