Portside Peril by Hope Callaghan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a sweet Christian series, and the mysteries are interesting, but the typos bother me. Still, I love the cruise setting and the characters are nice.


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Legendary by Stephanie Garber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved Caraval and was really looking forward to Tella's story, but this book has some loose threads that left me a little confused. I hope the 3rd book in the series addresses them. Mostly, I felt that Dante was not acting like he did on the first one. Didn't he win the previous Caraval? Wasn't his sister the one that died? None of that was addressed in the 2nd book. I'm starting Finale today, and I hope my questions get answered.


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Chasing Echoes by Dan Goldman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was initially concerned about the swearing and Malka's lifestyle, but it soon became apparent that it was part of the story. I would not recommend it for younger children, I would say mature teens and up.
This book tells the story of a Jewish family who sets out to find their ancestor's home city and the flour mill he owned. Along the way, they discover many things about each other, Ashkenazi Jewish history, and the present state of antisemitism in Eastern Europe. I do not read too many graphic novels, but I thought it was odd that through out the trip nobody lent Malka clothes after her luggage went missing.


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Terns of Endearment by Donna Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been reading a lot of cruise-themed mysteries lately. This one happens on a smaller ship, and they are stuck out in the Atlantic for days. Meg's family is therefore prevented from most of their usual antics. When one passenger is thought to have jumped overboard and the captain seemed not interested in investigating, Meg and her family take over. Actually, they motorize most of the passengers and practically mutiny. Well, the staff is sick with food poisoning and the engine is out so there's no electricity, so something has to be done.


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Finished my first challenge~!  20 cozies

        Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge   
   
    368 members
    This group is for all of those who would like to participate in the cozy mystery challenge I host on my blog Socrates' Book Review Blog.  I thought I would have a group over here as well.  You can join here or on my blog.  I thought this would be especially helpful for those without a blog.  You don't need a blog to join!
 

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Blood Orange by Susan Wittig Albert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

China Bayles is one of my favorite characters, so I don't know why I stopped reading the series a couple of years ago. I love her hints, her crazy family life, Ruby, the pets, and her tea room. I'm really glad I picked up this book, and I'm going to catch up on the few others I have not read. In this installment, China is missing McQuaid who is off on an investigation with Blackie. Her guest at the cottage behind the store, a nurse named Kelly, disappears mysteriously and soon China finds herself investigating why she's gone and what was the murder she called China about. When Kelly has a car accident on her way to China's house and ends up in the hospital in a comma, China tries to piece together the little bits of information she has.


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Arsenic and Old Books by Miranda James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like books about librarians, and I love his cat, Diesel. I am not a cat person, but if I were to get a cat, I'd love to get a Maine Coon. That said, this particular book had a somewhat simple mystery, but it was very interesting. A Civil War era diary is found, and triggers an escalation of a political feud between 2 local families. Charlie is archiving the diary, but it disappears, and after a professor seeking tenure is killed, the diary is returned with pages missing. I do like that Charlie is not the "Don't go in the basement!" type of MC, but I had a bit of a hard time listening to the audiobook, narrated by a woman, and speaking in first person. But otherwise, it was a nice, easy read.


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Lark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another funny Lanslow clan adventure. Neighboring Clay County and all their corrupt leaders are on a manhunt, and the Caerphylly gang is trying to help the presumed innocent folks. There are several laugh out loud moments, as well as suspenseful ones. I love this series and cannot wait for the next one.


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Ghost Ship by P.J. Alderman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jordan moves to Port Chatham to escape her ex, and buys an old home to repair. Little did she know the home comes with ghosts. Apparently, the town is full of ghosts, and everyone knows it, but Jordan seems to be one of the few who can see them and communicate with them. The ghosts ask for help solving their murders, and Jordan is helping, but there seems to be a connection to a new murder. Who killed the town's notorious womanizer, and what was he doing scuba diving when he was known to hate the water? I felt a little lost since I didn't read the first book, but I did not guess the murderer, so maybe I will read the first one also.


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Caraval by Stephanie Garber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not think I would enjoy this book, as it sounded like it would be too dark for me, but I really liked it. It had a sort of Frozen meets Fantasy Island vibe, with a mystery week added in. Sometimes the imaginative language got on my nerves, but the plot kept me wanting more.


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Town in a Strawberry Swirl by B.B. Haywood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This mystery has a lot of small twists that kept me guessing and I did not figure out the killer ahead of the denouement. I'm liking this series more and more as I read through them.
Candy and Doc are sort of suspected in the death of a nearby farmer, since the weapon used was one of their shovels. They try to trace who had the shovel, which, as it happens in a small town, was borrowed and passed along to neighbor after neighbor. In order to clear themselves, Candy and Doc go investigating, finding ancient town deeds and buried treasure (and a dog named Random) along the way.


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Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd by Alan Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Flavia is back home from Canada and quickly finds a body while on an errand for the vicar's wife. Why would someone kill a harmless wood carver? And why is his bookcase filled with children books?
Flavia and her faithful Gladys have to find out.


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The Unmapped Sea by Maryrose Wood


This series gets more interesting as new books come out. The Ashtons and Incorregibles go to Brighton in January for a 'bracing' holiday. Penelope and Simon try to talk uncle Pudge to tell them what happened in Ahwoo, Ahwoo.


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As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not quite as good as the others, but I'm not sure if it was because of the setting, the fact that I was reading it, not hearing it, or because she only gets to do one experiment. Still a good read, but I'm glad she's going back home.


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A Plain Vanilla Murder by Susan Wittig Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love China and Ruby, but sometimes her books are description heavy which makes them hard to read. This one switches POV between China and Police Chief Sheila, and the timeline skips a little, but it was a complicated mystery. Picking the killer was easy, although the motive was unclear until the end. And like always, there is a ton of information about the herb/spice-of-the-book, Vanilla, including a lot I didn't know.


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Pekoe Most Poison by Laura Childs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I changed my top suspect so many times during this novel full of twists, but it was fun. Drayton and Theo are at a Rat Tea when the host is poisoned and killed. Great whodonit!


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Plum Tea Crazy by Laura Childs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The murder on this book is a bit grosser than usual, but Theo and Drayton set out to solve it nevertheless. The murdered was on top of my list since halfway through the book, but there were pieces of information missing so I wasn't 100% sure. Still, it made for a good puzzle to figure out, and of course, the book includes nice recipes.


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Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Best in the series yet! Opening the crypt where the saint's bones are buried reveals not only another body, but a years-old mystery. Flavia, as always, has to get involved. She discovers a lot of secrets, from her sister's love life to the DeLuce's family ancestry.


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Death on the Menu by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hailey is helping her mom cater a Cuban-Key West cultural exchange, but of course death gets in the way.

This book is as much fun as the others in the series, and includes recipes. I think I'll need a map of Key West to follow Hailey as she moves around town.


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Murder with Ganache by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another lovely cozy from Lucy Burdette. They make me want to go back to Key West and see all the places she talks about. I did attend a wedding at Hemingway's house, but did not see any of the cats.


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Killer Takeout by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

October in Key West means heat, humidity and the Fall Festival Fest. This year, it also means a murder and a hurricaine. When one of the contentants in the pageant keels over dead during the zombie bike ride, Hailey steps in to try and solve the murder. In between writing a column about take-out food, planning her mom's wedding, dealing with her new boss and trying to decide whether to leave the Island for the duration of the storm, Hailey has her hands full.

I really enjoy this series, and picked up a map of Key West so I could follow along when Hailey is driving around town. The author really makes you feel like you are there, sweating and looking at all the strange happenings. There were so many likely suspects, I gave up trying to figure out who was the murdered. I also had to go and find a slice of Key Lime Pie on Saturday because I was craving it like crazy. This series is a lot of fun!


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Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so caught up in the plot that I was almost finished with the book before I realized that there hadn't been a murder (yet). I was kind of annoyed with the unending Norman vs. Mike thing, but Joanne Fluke keeps surprising me. I don't want to spoil the plot so I won't say much. The recipes were nice also.


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The League of Beastly Dreadfuls by Holly Grant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Middle grade humor about flatulence spoiled my enjoyment of this otherwise fun adventure book. The plot twists and turns until the very end, and leaves you wanting for more. I loved the characters and the setting. I'm not sure if I'll read the rest of the series. I do want to know what happens to Anastasia, but I hope the silliness gets turned down a little.


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A Deadly Feast by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hayley is preparing for her wedding to Nathan, scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving. She's got articles to write, food to prepare, details to finish and much more on her plate. Not the right time for Nathan to go undercover in an investigation. Maybe she's not ready to be an officer's wife? On top of everything, a tourist falls dead during a tour she's reviewing. Was it an allergic reaction or murder. Lots of twists and turns, and up to the last minute worry that the wedding will not take place.


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Sympathy for the Devil by Jerrilyn Farmer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was very surprised several chapters deep into this book to find it was the first of the series. There was no background story, except for a little bit in chapter 15. While I found the mystery good, a few things bothered me. There was more swearing that I am used to in a cozy, one character was very unlikeable, and some of the comments left me wondering if I had missed things. Maybe this series is a spinoff of another, which would explain the lack of background? I already own the second in the series so I'll give it a chance before deciding if I'll read the rest of the books


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The Chocolate Falcon Fraud by JoAnna Carl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A festival honoring film noir is being held in Warner Pier, and TenHuis chocolate falcons are selling fast. Lee's step-son (former step-son?) makes a quick visit and then disappears. And just like in the movie, a dead body falls when they open the door. What is going on and what does the ship La Paloma have to do with it?
Fudge recipes are sprinkled in with this mystery, the 15th in the chocolate series. The mystery is quite complicated for a cozy, and there are a couple of twists towards the end. I didn't particularly like the identity of the murder victim, but it does fit into the plot. I like that my suspect list was long and nobody really stood out; I'm beginning to get bored of mysteries where I can pick off the killer from the start. I'm looking forward to more books in this series!


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Deep Fried Homicide by Jessica Beck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake is hurt and Suzanne is taking time off, leaving the donut shop in her assistant's hands. But playing nursemaid is not all cake and roses. Both of them are being sought by people wanting to hurt them. Will the bad guys be caught before Suzanne misses work too much?


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Caramel Crush by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mel has her hands full with Angie turning into a Bridezilla. Then her former college roommate wants her to deliver 'break-up' cupcakes to her fiance to let him know she's dumping him. Angie complies, but the groom-not-to-be is dead. Was Mel set up to find him? The killer was not on the top of my list, and a couple of twists on the b story make this a must read.


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Vanilla Beaned by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mel, Angie and Tate are in Las Vegas trying to open their first Cupcake store franchise. Mel is still having doubts, but after meeting Holly, she feels a lot more positive. Except that someone is out to kill Holly. Or is it Tucci's hoods going after them?
I like this series (and the cupcake recipes!) and can't wait to read the next one after the funny ending of this one. And I have to make the Snickerdoodle cupcakes.


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Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There were some sad parts and some very exciting moments. Life is not easy for cupcake bakers Mel and Angie and their assorted family and friends. They are selling cupcakes at a charity Zombie walk where a Zombie bride is shot. Was she the target, or was Angie --also dressed as a Zombie bride-- the target? Does it have anything to do with brother Joe's case against mobster Frank Tucci, or, as the organizer claims, a government conspiracy? With Roach back in town and Tate uber jealous, the list of suspects just grows and grows.

Likable characters and a nicely progressing back story keep me enjoying this series.



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Dipped to Death by Kelly Lane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The first half of this novel was hard for me to read, as I didn't read the first two and I found the characters unlikeable (yes, even the dog); and their names very weird--Pottie Moss, Precious, Pepper, Buck, etc. However, about 2/3 into the book, the mystery got very interesting and convoluted. All my suspects were wrong, all the motives I had listed were wrong. So, kudos to the author for a good plot. I am not sure if I'll go back to read the previous books, but maybe if I can find them at the library or used book store.


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Only Skein Deep by Maggie Sefton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is the first book that I've read in this series, so I'm not sure if it's unusual because the MC was 9 months pregnant, and of course you wouldn't want her to be in danger. While there is a murder, and we're kept updated of the case progress via a friend of the police detective, there is no action. It felt like I was reading a journal of Kelly's last month of pregnancy, i.e. what she did everyday, had for breakfast, moaned about missing coffee, tried teas that her friends suggested, and conversations with the other knitters. I may try to read the first one and see if there's more action.


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Dying for Devil's Food by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mel does not want to go to her 15th class reunion to see the people who bullied her mercilessly, but Angie talks her into it as they would order cupcakes. So when Mel walks into the bathroom and finds the baddest bully dead, of course she is a suspect. Some twists and turns makes the plot interesting, and it's nice to see Angie and Tate married. The recipes are yummy.


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Broken Bone China

Broken Bone China by Laura Childs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While Theo and Drayton are up in a hot air balloon, a drone hits another balloon near them and makes it crash, leaving 3 dead. Theo and Drayton of course have to investigate. Along with Hailey, Mrs. Dimple and Detective Tidwell, they try to figure out who was responsible. A new B&B is opening in town, and Theo may be facing some competition soon. I had the killer on my suspect list, but the mystery had plenty of twists and turns.


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The Opening Night Murder

The Opening Night Murder by Anne Rutherford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading Restoration era fiction, and this story was particularly interesting as it dealt with the Globe theater and the return of entertainment after Cromwell. I liked most of the characters, but Daniel bothered me a lot. I guess his attitude was correct for the times and his station, but still, he could have been a little warmer. The mystery was not so complicated, but it was very interesting how Suzanne solved it.


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Ghost Ship by P.J. Alderman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jordan moves to Port Chatham to escape her ex, and buys an old home to repair. Little did she know the home comes with ghosts. Apparently, the town is full of ghosts, and everyone knows it, but Jordan seems to be one of the few who can see them and communicate with them. The ghosts ask for help solving their murders, and Jordan is helping, but there seems to be a connection to a new murder. Who killed the town's notorious womanizer, and what was he doing scuba diving when he was known to hate the water? I felt a little lost since I didn't read the first book, but I did not guess the murderer, so maybe I will read the first one also.


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The Flight of Swans by Sarah  McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always dreamed of writing a retelling of the Six Swans story, so when I saw this, I had to read it. I'm glad I did. It was not the story I pictured telling, but it was a gripping tale of pain, strength, and the will to survive and save others.


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Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've never been to Singapore, so some of this book was a little hard to follow, but I enjoyed the characters and the food talk. I wish it had a glossary and more recipes. The mystery was about 2 bodies found on the coast, and it developed nicely. Like all first books in a series, it spent a while describing the characters and I was not familiar with all the groups. I need to read this series with a dictionary handy.


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Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles by A.L. Herbert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After reading a book set in a foreign country, I was glad to read a book set in an area where I lived for over 30 years and could recognize the places mentioned. Mahalia (Halia) owns a soul food restaurant in the DC suburbs. She finds her business partner dead on the kitchen floor, and since the police are running after an incorrect lead, she sets out to find the killer. The mystery itself was good, although a bit rushed at the end, but I had 2 (minor) problems with the book. One was Halia's cousin, Wavonne, and her speech (mild swearing) and actions. At least they were 'in character' but it distracted me from the plot. The other one were small things that a chef would never do, like drop a cast iron pan into a sink full of water. That drove me crazy! ;-) I will probably try to read the rest of the series, but they won't be a priority.


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Murder Ties the Knot by Christy Fifield
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Glory is helping BFF Karen get ready for her wedding. When she goes to pick up the special quilt she ordered as a present, she can't find the quilter. A few days later she is stunned to find out that 2 bodies are found dead in the quilter's property.

I found this mystery a little odd, as it's usually the MC who finds the body, but in this story the murders are really off off stage. Still, it was a good mystery, I love all the characters and the recipes, and Bluebeard the parrot/ghost is a hoot. A lot happens in Glory's life, which may explain why the murders were almost storyline B.


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Death by Water by Kerry Greenwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I've been on a cruising cozies reading thread for a while, and this one at least went to places I've never been. Phryne is hired by the cruise line to see if she can figure out who is stealing jewelry from the passengers. Wearing a magnificent sapphire as bait, she and her assistant Dot move among the First Class and third class and staff respectively. With unexpected help from a ship's cat, they set up a trap for the thief, but before they can catch him, there is a murder on board.

I found this book a bit confusing between the time setting (1920s) and the area (Australia/New Zealand), but it is loaded with information about local flora, fauna, and native peoples. The mystery itself was not hard to guess, but the motive was somewhat unexpected. At the end of each chapter there is a note from a passenger on the Titanic, but there was no explanation as to if they were real or made up.


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The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Flavia and am glad that she's back to her usual hijinks after her father's death. In this book, Phoebe's and Dieter's wedding is almost ruined by a finger bone stuck in the wedding cake. Of course Flavia must investigate along with Duggar. Are the 2 missionaries visiting from Africa involved? What are they up to with their lecture on "Christian Health?" and where did the 27,000 pounds that were deposited into the Vicarage bank account come from?


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In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A bunch of years ago, I watched a short-lived series about a Jewish girl moving from the North East to the South. She meets a girl named Grace and they become friends. That series awoke my interest in the stories of Jews in the Southern US, so when I saw this book, I wanted to read it. Ruth and her family belong in Atlanta, where her mother grew up, but in the interim, she had moved to New York, married a Jewish man, converted to Judaism, and raised her 3 daughter's as Jews. Ruth is 16, and it's 1959. She gets caught up with the debutante crowd and keeps her Jewishness a secret. Then the synagogue she attends gets bombed, and everything changes.


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Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I do not know if it was because I'm so tired at present, but it took me forever to read this. I had to keep going back to get all the characters straight. I should have read it right after the first one. The mystery was good, and although I had the killer pinned from early on, there was so much other stuff going on, that it still kept my interest. I'll read the next one with my notes!


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Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so caught up in the plot that I was almost finished with the book before I realized that there hadn't been a murder (yet). I was kind of annoyed with the unending Norman vs. Mike thing, but Joanne Fluke keeps surprising me. I don't want to spoil the plot so I won't say much. The recipes were nice also.


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Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not into sewing, but I immediately got into this book. Maybe because I just started a job as a librarian in a small town (not as small as Sweet Briar). The mystery was good and I had several suspects on the murder. I didn't really like the inspector, but maybe I'll warm up to him later. I wish I had the recipe for the Black Forest Tortes--I was reading the large print version, I'll have to look if the regular one has it. I will try to read the rest of the series.


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Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday by Nancy Atherton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lori and Bill take a working vacation at Derek's estranged father's mansion. There are fires, poison pen letters, a found stuffed elephant (does everyone in this series have a stuffed animal? Lorie has the bunny, Nell has Bertie, etc.) Lori meets Derek's cousin Simon, who wants to inherit the mansion since Derek and his father do not get along. With Aunt Dimity's help, Lori tries to find who is threatening the others. This series rarely has a murder, but it's very interesting.


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