Book picks similar to
Lupine Lies by Karen MacInerney


mystery
cozy-mysteries
cozy
very-next-up-series

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.

Spirit Matters


Patrice Greenwood - 2017
     While trying to support her grieving Goth office manager, Ellen ponders the mysterious flashes of light she saw in another part of Santa Fe, wondering if they are related to Captain Dusenberry, the tearoom's resident ghost. She asks for help from the local spirit-tour guide, Willow Lane, who takes curiosity about the captain's unsolved murder to a new level, where Ellen finds herself exploring the very meaning of spirit. Will a séance in the tearoom finally provide the answers to her questions? (This is a novella, a short companion story to the Wisteria Tearoom Mysteries series. It is recommended that you read A Masquerade of Muertos before reading this story.)

Eve Lloyd's A Deadline Cozy Mystery


Sonia Parin - 2017
    Paying her aunt, Mira Lloyd, a.k.a. Elizabeth Lloyd, renowned historical romance author, a long overdue visit, she plans on spending a month on Rock-Maine Island lounging around and plotting the launch of her new life. Her ex-husband, however, has other ideas. As for her aunt… she’s gone missing. And now there’s a dead body to contend with and a murder weapon with her fingerprints on it. A mantle of suspicion hangs over Eve and everyone she encounters has a reason to want her out of the way. Unwilling to leave matters in the hands of swoon worthy Detective Jack Bradford… only because it’s her civic duty to provide a new perspective, Eve Lloyd engages the assistance of her new friend and fellow suspect, Jill Saunders. They both stumble their way through a long list of possible motives and suspects in a race to find the killer before either one turns into the next victim. Snuffed Out Eve Lloyd, a death knell? Eve refuses to believe her choice of words had something to do with inviting a killer to the island, but just to be on the safe side, she agrees to avoid all use of any and all words related to killing. However, it might already be too late… Her run in with a local artist, Reginald Bryant Burns, has put her in an awkward position. Trying to make amends, Eve resorts to bribery, but that only makes matters worse and now…She’s a prime suspect in a murder investigation. The timing couldn’t be worse. She has a date with Detective Jack Bradford and the killer is threatening to ruin it for her. All Tied Up It’s no accident. Eve Lloyd is a magnet for trouble. On the brink of settling into an uneventful existence, Eve Lloyd turns her attention to a new venture. She’s going to open an inn and she thinks she’s found the perfect house. It should all be smooth sailing from there, but she’s developed a knack for landing right in the thick of it. This time, she stumbles on a body in the least likely place and her fingerprints are all over the handcuffs found on the murder victim. As the suspects list grows, and the dream of running an inn evaporates, she becomes a target of the killer’s rage.Despite trying to keep her nose out of other people’s business, it seems the only way she can get her life back on track is if she sets a trap for the killer. The Last Bite Eve Lloyd’s childhood nemesis, Charlotte McLain, is getting married. Nothing will induce Eve to attend. Nothing except… blackmail.From the start, everything about this wedding rings alarm bells for Eve. The location, the groom, the guests. The bride. But that’s nothing unusual. The odds of everything going right are stacked in the bride’s favor. There have already been several deaths on the island. Lighting surely wouldn’t strike again…When the groom suddenly dies, all fingers of blame are pointed directly at Eve. After all, she had opportunity and plenty of motives.She’s been framed and despite trying to keep her nose out of trouble, she’s now been dragged right back into the thick of it. The list of suspects is extensive, but she’s sure she can narrow it down to… at least a half dozen people. The Final Cut “…What sort of business person would I be if I start killing off my guests?” Eve Lloyd has settled into her new life in Rock-Maine Island and is about to open up an inn - a costly venture now that she has her heart set on getting an expensive custom made stove.

Dough Knot Murder: A Christmas Short Story


CeeCee James - 2019
    What should be all sugar cookies and hot cocoa takes a drastic turn when one of the guests turns up cold—as in stone cold dead. With no help in sight, the two hope to find the killer before anyone else gets iced out. Including them. "I love the Baker Street Series!" "Good mix of characters to keep you turning pages & looking forward to next." "Reward yourself by making some of the recipes included!!!" Previously published as part of the boxed set titled Six Merry Little Murders. This short story has been newly edited with and expanded. 
Be sure to read through the end to catch a few special recipes including Cecelia’s Christmas morning bread, a little something from Oscar, and my own secret Chicken Pot Pie! Plus a note from me! This story is special to me (I share a bit more about that at the end), and I hope you love this grumpy, darling man as much as I do! It turns out, the world would be a better place with a few more Oscars and Cecelias. Other books in the series include- Cherry Pie or Die Cookies and Scream Creme Brulée To Slay Drizzle of Death Slash in the Pan Terror on Top A clean, cozy read. No graphic violence, sex, or strong language.

Summer Sleuths Cozy Mysteries Collection


Hope Callaghan - 2019
    Enjoy hours of entertainment with over 1,000 pages of clean cozy mysteries. Each book has a summer theme. BONUS: RECIPES INCLUDED! ------------------------------------------- Hope Callaghan Cozy Mysteries Collection (Summer Sleuths Edition) Contents: 1- Sun, Sand, and Suspects (Garden Girls Cozy Mystery Series) 2- Swag in Savannah (Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery Series) 3- Deadly Deception (Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series) 4- Nightmare in Nantucket (Garden Girls Cozy Mystery Series) 5-Tides of Deception (Samantha Rite Mystery Series) 6- Divine Secrets (Divine Cozy Mystery Series) Plus Bonus Short Story, “Secrets of a Stranger.” ------------------------------------------- Book 1- Sun, Sand, and Suspects Newlyweds Paul and Gloria Kennedy are about to embark on their long awaited honeymoon. The only problem is, Gloria has no idea where they're going since her husband, Paul, wanted to surprise her with the honeymoon location. She is relieved to discover their flight will be landing in sunny Florida. Visions of sprawling, luxurious resorts boasting sandy white beaches and sparkling pools fill Gloria's head. Unfortunately, Paul has a completely different honeymoon location planned. When they arrive at their final destination, not only does Gloria have to come to grips with her disappointment, she has to figure out why one of the first people the newlyweds come across is a dead man. Before the couple can even unpack, unexpected guests arrive and settle in across the street. Can Gloria solve the mystery of the suspicious death and salvage her honeymoon...or will the sun, sand, and suspects prove to be deadly? Book 2 - Swag in Savannah Carlita Garlucci is thrilled that her son, Tony, has arrived in Savannah to help with the opening of their new pawnshop, "Savannah Swag." While giving her son a tour of the property, they stumble upon a hidden trap door that leads to an undiscovered basement with a tunnel. Curious to find out where the tunnel leads, Tony breaks through the wall and discovers underground passageways rumored to have been used by pirates to smuggle their stolen goods into the historic city. While exploring the tunnel, the Garluccis find skeletal remains with ties to a darker secret that has been hidden behind the tunnel walls for decades. The gruesome discovery causes Carlita to wonder what other secrets her property holds. Despite her insistence they reseal the tunnel, Carlita’s children convince her to leave it open long enough for them to explore the passageways as they attempt to solve a decades old mystery. They quickly discover that the secrets hidden underground are tied not only to the previous owners of her property, but also implicate Carlita's deceased husband, Vinnie. Will Carlita and her children be able to clear Vinnie's name, or will their snooping around incriminate him even more? PLUS 4 MORE COZY MYSTERIES AND A BONUS SHORT STORY FOR YOU TO ENJOY!

Littered with Trouble


Eryn Scott - 2022
    She never imagined she would be a widow before the age of forty. To cope with the sudden loss of her husband, Lou moves across the country to live near her best friend in a town as cute as a button. Even though it means quitting her fancy New York editor job, she now owns the bookstore of her dreams. Well, almost. She definitely didn’t dream about a dead man showing up in her alley. Found with no identification, the police plaster the man’s face everywhere, along with the name of her bookshop, inundating Lou with negative press before she can even open. Worse, Lou was one of the last people to see him alive, and she didn’t even get his name.Worried the mystery man’s family is left without the answers she so desperately needed in her husband’s death, Lou tries to help find the man’s identity. On closer inspection, she realizes her conversation with the mystery man was full of clues. Starting with a confusing book page he left behind, Lou follows the trail. If she can solve this mystery, her bookstore might have a chance at being known for something more than murder.

Snow Ridge Mysteries, The Complete Series: A Small Town Murder Mystery Box Set


Emma Lee - 2018
    The numbness, the disbelief in what had happened and the fear of what would come next ensured that her every thought was tinged with doubt. Hoping for a fresh start, she’s packed up, said her goodbyes and moved to the small town of Snow Ridge, New Hampshire. Settling down in an old, renovated farmhouse, she plans to focus on the simple things in life. And, in time, she is determined to get back to some semblance of normalcy. But, apparently, that is not going to happen any time soon… The young girl at the local bookstore Bonnie frequents has been murdered. She was one of the few with whom Bonnie has become friendly during her short time in town. And whether it’s her mysterious past, her reserved nature or simply the relative ease in pinning the blame on the outsider, the police have Bonnie at the top of their list of suspects. Now, if she wishes to avoid a prison sentence for a crime she didn’t commit, it appears as if Bonnie is going to have to prove her own innocence. In doing so, she’ll uncover a crooked politician, unveil a hidden monster and unearth a web of secrets & lies that certain residents of the town have spent their lives concealing. And, with a little luck, she may just survive long enough to clear her good name. Book 2: Just when Bonnie Mayberry thought her new life in Snow Ridge was getting back to normal after a horrific case involving a deadly, old man bent on revenge, she is pulled into a second case that wraps her in a web of lies, deceit and...murder! At first, the man’s murder seems straightforward enough. That is, until an influential politician arrives in town demanding that the wife of the dead man be turned over to her for prosecution. But Bonnie soon finds out that this powerful woman is not exactly who she seems to be… In fact, she may not only be the killer, but she just may be planning to take over the world! Book 3: When Bonnie agrees to help locate a missing girl, Bonnie leaves her hometown of Snow Ridge, New Hampshire and hits the road on a mission to track her down. But when false leads and countless mishaps have her traveling up & down the East Coast and mingling with a cast of characters ranging from the Amish to the FBI, she begins to doubt her chances at success. That is, until she finds the girl on a dark & stormy night. And that’s when things really start to get messy… Book 4: After traveling up and down the East Coast in search of a missing girl, Bonnie Mayberry couldn’t be happier to return to normal, everyday life. But, as one case closes, another opens… It begins when a bounty hunter arrives in town just as a heavy fog begins to descend upon Snow Ridge. His tale of a murderous clown, a maniacal banker and a promise to a dying woman seems to be as murky as the misty air. But, as always, Bonnie is determined to help solve the mystery and, despite the danger from thickening fog, she soon finds herself on the road once again.

Death on Demand / Design for Murder


Carolyn G. Hart - 2008
    Hart delivers a novel approach to murder that is sure to enthrall you until the last killer is caught.. . .Death on DemandAt Annie Laurance’s Death on Demand bookstore in Broward’s Rock, South Carolina (“the finest mystery bookstore north of Miami”), murder suddenly isn’t confined to the shelves. An author’s abrupt demise during a gathering of famous mystery writers is proof positive that a bloody sword is sometimes mightier than a brilliant pen. But now Annie is in the unenviable position of prime suspect, which means that she and her wealthy paramour, Max Darling, must unmask a brutal and ingenious killer. For Annie, failing could mean prison . . . while success could mean her death.Design for MurderWhen Annie stages a Mystery Night for Chastain, South Carolina’s annual antebellum house tour, she finds herself the lead in a deadly drama wherein the curtain falls on a mean-spirited grande dame. But while fingers point at Annie as the murderer, the perpetrator lurks within the cast of Murder-Most-Make-Believe. Guilty until proven innocent, Annie hopes to clear her name with Max’s help—until her chief witness is killed. Now it will take all of Annie’s sleuthing skills to unmask the evil in the hearts of Chastain’s Beautiful People.

Treasure Borrowed and Blue


S.W. Hubbard - 2018
    She knows first-hand that funerals are family events that bring out the worst in people.Now Audrey is just six weeks away from a joyful family event--her wedding. The band has been hired, the invitations mailed.Wedded bliss is right around the corner.Then a thief strikes and destroys Audrey's happiness. As she narrows the list of possible culprits,her suspicion falls on the family she's about to join.Will catching the thief ruin Audrey's shot at the ideal family she's always dreamed of?When the crime is solved with one final twist, Audrey learns a lesson about the bonds that tie families together and the expectations that can drive them apart.A note from the author: In the chronology of Audrey's life, this short mystery novella fits between the events in This Bitter Treasure (which ended with Audrey's engagement) and Treasure in Exile (which begins with Audrey already married).Loyal readers let me know that they wanted to see Audrey's wedding. So I wrote Treasure Borrowed and Blue because I want to keep my readers happy! Nothing ever goes quite as planned for our Audrey, so the tale of her wedding takes quite a few twists and turns (but no murders!).

The Wedding Cake Murder (The Arizona Summers Mysteries Book 1)


Susan Keene - 2019
    Is it a murder or an accident? Arizona Summers and her psychic dog Nutmeg love to solve crimes. The new chief Keith Wesley makes it clear he doesn’t want her help. Once he realizes Arizona is the go-to person with whom the townspeople share their deepest and darkest secrets. The handsome new chief tries to get back in Arizona’s good graces but she doesn’t make it easy. It’s hard for Ary to keep the restaurant she owns running smoothly when her mother, Emma causes chaos at every turn. Even her Aunt Sandy, who referees her sister and niece, shakes her head at Emma’s shenanigans. Join the fun and the humor of this great mystery series. Get your copy today.

Panty Raid


Lorraine Bartlett - 2014
    Kathy thinks they can catch the culprit red-handed in a panty raid! This mini mystery introduces the two main characters of the upcoming Lotus Bay Mysteries. With Baited Breath arrives Fall 2014.

Ollie Stratford Cozy Mysteries: 5 Book Box Set: An Ollie Stratford Cozy Mystery


N.C. Lewis - 2018
    Lewis's popular Ollie Stratford Cozy Mysteries series. Enjoy hour upon hour of good, clean, humorous, reading with characters you will grow to love! BOOK1: TEXAS TROUBLES Middle-aged Professor Ollie Stratford's been hounded by a psycho realtor, outrun by a bunch of grandma’s, taken advice from sock puppets, stuck in a brimming toilet bowl, and almost run out of college by a drunken professor. How is that for her first few days in a quiet little Texas town she never wanted to live in? BOOK 2: CREEK CRISIS When a mysterious Portuguese film producer hires Ollie Stratford's event center she thinks it is going to be fun and games... until the brawling and fisticuffs amongst the Divas break out followed by Murder! BOOK 3: BITTER BONES When the bones of beloved local, Garrick Markovich, turn up buried by the oil well, Ollie's dreams of financial stability are put in danger. Now, Ollie must uncover the secrets of tight lipped locals to find the killer and obtain justice for Garrick. BOOK 4: MAGIC MUMBLES Doctor Ollie Stratford loves a good mystery. But the last thing she ever expected was to stumble into one while relaxing at Mysterious Malcolm's Magical Masquerade show. When a body shows up during the show, and the Magician leaps from the stage and disappears, Ollie gets sucked into a world where everyone has a grudge, and no one is talking. BOOK 5: TEDDY TUMPIN Ollie is trying to live a normal life, in a normal Texas Hill Country town, with a normal event center business. All that changes when the high school homecoming brings a local hero back to town. Then strange things happen—including to Ollie—and a body appears unexpectedly in a most unusual place. As Ollie follows a twisted trail, she does not understand the terrible consequences that will result. Will Ollie and the gang be able to track down the killer before the next victim or is it already too late? Pick up this TOTALLY ABSORBING COZY MYSTERY BOXSET FULL OF STUNNING TWISTS AND TURNS.

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?

The Milburn Big Box Set: Two Complete Series: "A Murder In Milburn" & "Return To Milburn"


Nancy McGovern - 2020
    

Pancakes and Corpses


Agatha Frost - 2017
    With a new smug Detective Inspector in town who underestimates her every move, Julia makes it her mission to discover the real murderer, before her village friends are dragged into the frame, and more bodies are discovered.A light, cozy mystery read with a cat loving and cafe owning female amateur sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes