Book picks similar to
Scooped by Gina LaManna


mystery
cozy-mysteries
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HALLOWEEN SCARE


Maggie Sefton - 2014
    An E-Short short story (approximately 7000 words) featuring the cast of characters who inhabit the NYT Bestselling Kelly Flynn Knitting Mysteries.

On the Trail of a Killer


Cate Lawley - 2020
     Fairmont has a murky history, but none of that matters now that he’s started his new life with Zella. A fluffy dog bed, great meals, and even better company - what more could a dog want? Everything’s grand, until he sniffs out a dead body. Zella’s new life began when she adopted Fairmont, but he was just the start. The changes kept coming: a new home, a new town, a new name. A lovely beginning, spoiled only by the corpse in her otherwise perfect backyard. Can Zella, Fairmont, and all their new friends in White Sage find the murderer before Zella’s fresh new start turns deadly?

Skating Around the Law


Joelle Charbonneau - 2010
    Fast. However, when she discovers the dead body of the town’s handyman headfirst in a rink toilet, potential buyers are scared off. Now Rebecca is stuck in a small town where her former neighbors think she doesn’t belong, living with her scarily frisky grandfather, Pop, and relying on a police department that’s better at gardening than solving crimes.Eager to move forward with her life, Rebecca begins investigating the murder herself, reluctantly accepting help from Pop and his extensive social network, which includes a handsome veterinarian and a former circus camel named Elwood. Nevertheless, someone isn’t happy she’s looking into the case, and their threats will have her questioning whether playing sleuth was such a good idea after all.Joelle Charbonneau’s debut is a sheer delight---a laugh-out-loud mystery with plenty of heart.

Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure


Diane Kelly - 2011
    A special agent on the IRS’s payroll, she’s dead-set on making sure that money crimes don’t pay… Tax cheats, beware: The Treasury Department’s Criminal Investigations Division has a new special agent on its payroll. A recovering tomboy with a head for numbers, Tara’s fast becoming the Annie Oakley of the IRS—kicking ass, taking social security numbers, and keeping the world safe for honest taxpayers. Or else.Tara’s latest mission finds her in hot pursuit of ice-cream vendor Joseph “Joe Cool” Cullen. Along with frozen treats he’s selling narcotics—and failing to report his ill-gotten gains on his tax returns. Over Tara’s dead body. Then there’s Michael Gryder, who appears to be operating a Ponzi scheme…with banker Stan Shelton…whose lake house is being landscaped by Brett Ellington…who happens to be dating Tara. If following that money trail isn’t tough enough, now Tara must face a new conundrum: Should she invest her trust in Brett—or put him behind bars? New love always comes at a cost but justice? Priceless.

Until Death Do Us Tart


Holly Plum - 2016
     Bakery owner Joy Cooke is known around town for her scrumptious cakes, flaky pastries, and her killer chocolate tart. But when Joy's client, a batty bride-to-be, learns her ex-boyfriend is dead after eating one of Joy's desserts, the bakery becomes the center of a murder investigation. With the help of a spacy assistant and a fluffy cat named Cheesecake, Joy sets out to find the murderer. Her investigation points to her number one competitor in town, but would Joy's rival Maple McWayne resort to murder to put her out of business?

Iced Inn


Karen MacInerney - 2018
    The inn's kitchen smells like ginger and spice, the ground is frosted with snow, and wedding bells are about to ring out for innkeeper Natalie's favorite niece, Gwen. It's a joyous time... until the families of the bride and groom descend on the island, bringing nasty tempers and a wicked winter storm with them. Add a baffling rash of thefts, a dash of romantic intrigue, and an unexpected power shutdown, and Natalie's plans for a magical season are looking more like a recipe for disaster. Can Natalie find the missing gifts before the big holiday? And will the happy couple make it to the altar... or will the wedding go up in flames?

Cozy Mysteries Box Set


Hope Callaghan - 2016
    Malone? Book 2: Starboard Secrets Book 3: Waves of Deception Book 4: Teepees and Trailer Parks Book 1: Who Murdered Mr. Malone? (Series: Garden Girls Cozy Mysteries) Nothing exciting ever happens in the small town of Belhaven. Nothing that is, until a body was found in the woods behind the local elementary school. With the entire town in an uproar, "Garden Girl" Gloria Rutherford makes it her personal mission to find the killer or killers and solve the mystery with some help from her friends. With a little amateur detective work, Gloria is able to uncover enough clues that point right to the murderer. She's about to discover, however, things aren't always as clear cut as they would appear. Book 2: Starboard Secrets (Series: Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series) Millie Sanders’ happily ever after is suddenly destroyed when her husband of 35 years comes home one day and informs her that he is leaving her for another woman. To make matters worse, the other woman happens to be her “friend” and hairdresser, Delilah Osborne! After months of mourning and moping around the house, she stumbles upon a help wanted ad in the newspaper for the perfect job as an assistant cruise ship director. Before Millie can talk herself out of it, she fills out the application and mails it in. Much to her surprise, not only does the company contact her, they hire her! Determined to start a new life and new career, Millie boards the ship, ready for a new adventure. She isn’t on board the massive floating city - her new home - more than ten minutes when a dead body is discovered near the atrium bar. Her curiosity gets the best of her and before she knows it, Millie finds herself right in the thick of the investigation. With a little help from a new friend and shipmate, the amateur sleuth discovers that the deceased had more enemies than friends making this murder an even tougher case to crack. Will Millie delve too deeply and risk losing her job – and possibly her life? Book 3: Waves of Deception (Series: Samantha Rite/Deception) Waves of Deception is the first book in the Samantha Rite Mystery Series and a perfect blend of blossoming romance and action-packed adventure and suspense. Samantha Rite is in desperate need of a vacation. Her life is shattered when after 21 years of marriage, her husband walks out on her, leaving her for another woman. As Sam is trying to pick up the pieces and start over, her family decides now would be the perfect time for her to take a relaxing vacation. Before she can change her mind, she and her older sister are booked on a week-long Caribbean cruise. Just days before the trip, her sister is involved in a horrible accident and is unable to go. Persuaded to take this trip alone, Sam finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly adventure of a lifetime. Will she make it out alive? Book 4: Teepees and Trailer Parks (Series: Sweet Southern Sleuths Short Stories) Loretta Sweet and her identical twin sister, Lacy, have recently inherited a home in Misery, Mississippi, from their distant relative, (Aunt) Tess McCoy.

Murder on the Menu


Liz Turner - 2016
    Except her words seem to have run dry, and nothing she does can get the spark back.When tragedy strikes and the beloved town Mayor is found dead in his home under mysterious circumstances, Victoria’s instincts tell her there’s more to his death than meets the eye. The local RCMP don’t seem interested in the case- and it’s up to her and her friends to identify the murderer.With a list of suspects ranging from the Mayor's entitled son to his long-time political rival, it's not as obvious as she would have hoped. Armed with her insider information of the town and its long-time residents, Victoria sets out to solve the strange mystery.This new culinary, cozy mystery features an amateur woman sleuth determined to create a new life for herself, her kids and their lovable lab puppy, Vanilla.

The Potion Commotion


Constance Barker - 2019
    Sam, earth witch, owns the local smoothie shop. She likes to put a little magic in her brew and she can cure most ailments with her smoothie potions. Her one employee, David aka Tank, has tattoos out the ying yang and a Harley in the parking lot. Regular customer Phineas and his pet rooster Chuckles enjoy lounging in the shop's courtyard seating. Chuckles gets his own shot glass of magic brew. Lucky bird.Tessa, fire witch, owns the hottest grill in town. Mara, wind witch, can hear the whispers of the town, which comes in handy when an investigation is needed.Amelia Windemere was the coven's water witch until her untimely demise. She wasn't the most loved person in town....oh heck, she was the most despised. But how does a water witch drown? Are there witch hunters in town or something more evil? And why did the police force hire two new twin detectives just in time for a murder?Find out in the first installment of the Happy Blending Witch Cozy Mystery Series

Paper Phoenix


Mickey Friedman - 1986
    Maggie Longstreet has plenty of them after slimy, ambitious Richard trades her in for a more recent model. She’s so depressed she can barely get out of bed when Larry Hawkins, a seemingly not-at-all depressed acquaintance, commits suicide out of the blue. Suddenly Maggie goes on high alert, remembering something her evil ex said about Larry—something highly suspicious. And from there, it's just a short segué to a bracing new development: “When some women get divorced they go back to school, I thought. Some do volunteer work at the hospital, or join communes and learn to birth calves. Some have affairs with inappropriate men. My new interest is burglary. Maggie Longstreet, former wife and mother, past president of the Museum Guild, now starting a career as a second-story woman.” Fortunately, Maggie isn’t alone in her adventure—a very attractive, much younger man proves a lot more fun than Richard ever was. In fact, the real delight of this witty, sly mystery is seeing Maggie come alive again after a suffocating marriage. Set in the’70s, it has a bit of that Mad Men feel of women on the brink of something big. And completely unexpected. You know Maggie’s going to be okay when she says: “I’d rather have had one of those cute little guns with a mother-of-pearl handle, but this (diamond pin) would have to do. I concealed it in my hand. At least now I was armed—or pinned.”

Tulips Too Late: A Flower Shop Mystery Novella


Kate Collins - 2018
     After arriving late for a tulip delivery, Bloomers Flower Shop owner Abby Knight Salvare stumbles upon a homicide in action. When her long-time friend, Sgt. Sean Reilly accidentally releases information to the press, he is forced to step away from the case, and even his position. Having nowhere else to turn, and armed with a list of evidence that the detectives refuse to investigate, Sgt. Reilly enlists the help of Team Salvare, Abby and Marco, to solve this case and set things right. Abby will not only struggle with the case, but also with her own body as she and Marco engage in a rigorous healthy regimen, making sure they are in shape for a family cruise taking place in three short weeks. Abby’s emphatic cousin Jillian makes it a point to help Abby shed those extra pounds, promising that no one will ever call Abby by her former high school nickname ever again. In order to solve this mystery, Abby and Marco must defy strict orders from a powerful old foe – a bull-headed corrupt detective - who promises that one wrong move will have them wrapped up in legal fees, courtroom battles, and possibly even worse. Abby’s passion for truth and unquenchable thirst for justice drives her forward even while the odds stack up against her. This will not only be Abby’s greatest challenge but also her greatest redemption, believing she may have been able to save someone’s life, had she not delivered those tulips…too late.

Vanilla Bean Killer


Summer Prescott - 2017
    Chas and Spencer's first official case at the investigation agency hits far too close to home, and Missy begins to wonder if she might have made the biggest mistake of her adult life. County Coroner, Timothy Eckels, is haunted by the ghosts of his past, and his feisty assistant Fiona fears for her life in this first installment of the Cupcakes in Paradise series.

Pancakes and Poison


Ami Diane - 2018
    And there’s something strange about the residents. Until her car is fixed, she’s stranded in Keystone Village. The townspeople are not happy and warn her to leave immediately—especially the local sheriff. Just when she thinks her luck can’t get any worse, a waitress at the local diner dies while serving Ella. The sheriff suspects foul play and has Ella in his crosshairs. Now, along with the help of a handsome inventor, the local mischiefs in the form of two older ladies, and a squirrel with a strange sense of fashion, Ella must find Kay’s killer before she’s arrested for a crime she didn’t commit. In a town with Wild West shootouts and gladiator-style potlucks, Ella just hopes to solve Kay’s murder and make it home alive. While digging for answers, she discovers the village’s biggest secret—one that could leave her stranded in Keystone forever. Will Ella solve the murder before the wrong person gets put behind bars? And will she ever make it home again? Don’t miss out on this humorous cozy mystery full of coffee, delicious food, and a quirky cast of characters.

A Diamond Choker for Christmas


Nancy Warren - 2016
    Unfortunately, her latest plan to manifest success is to borrow a priceless necklace to wear to her annual Christmas party in her mobile home. Toni’s worried somebody may try to steal the valuable jewels — but the truth is much deadlier. The Diamond family’s holiday cheer may turn into holiday fear!

Marigolds and Murder


London Lovett - 2017
    With her pet crow Kingston and a tabby cat named Nevermore, she is settling right into her new life in the small coastal town of Port Danby. With a flower shop opening soon and a full cast of quirky neighbors and friends, her new digs are exactly what she's been looking for. Away from the hectic hustle and bustle of the city Lacey has found peace and happiness. However, her heightened sense of smell proves to be of use once again when a Port Danby neighbor turns up dead. Lacey finds herself caught up in an unexpected murder investigation alongside the handsome local detective, James Briggs. She’s determined to find the killer and solve the murder mystery before any more bodies turn up.Book 1 of the Port Danby Cozy Mystery Series. 1. Marigolds and Murder2. Carnations and Chaos (October 15, 2017)3. Mistletoe and Mayhem (November 2017)Full-length novel ~50,000 words.