Book picks similar to
Bylines and Betrayals (Lainey Boggins Mysteries Book 2) by Nikolett Strachan
cozy-mystery
first-reads
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Sweet Dreams (Jack Dillon Dublin Tale Book 2)
Patrick Emmett - 2017
Marshal Jack Dillon is temporarily on loan to the Garda Síochána Special Detective Unit, helping to smoke out the Russian crime boss responsible for the murders of two of their own in a shoot-out at the airport. Jack was wounded in the gun battle, but he did bring down down three mobsters. He’s definitely on the mend now, as his sexy nurse Lin will attest – with a big smile.In this action-packed sequel to Welcome, the first humorous Dublin Tale by Patrick Emmett, (Dev Haskell author Mike Faricy’s Irish alter ego), one of the mob families has sworn revenge. And so, with a price on Jack’s head, the Garda uses him to bait a trap for the bad guys.Emmett’s (Faricy’s) funny charm shows up in the good-natured joshing among Jack and the new Irish friends who’re protecting him. With round-the-clock security and a dog for protection – how could he screw this up, right? He will – with style and humor.Hint: like his American cousin Dev, Jack has a tendency to take his eye off the bad guy to admire a beautiful lady. And under certain circumstances, a whole roomful of Russian mobsters might be less dangerous to him than one pretty face and figure. WHO WILL LIKE IT: Fans of Dev Haskell and rascals like him. Also for fans of Robert B. Parker, Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen, Lee Child, strong Minnesota men – especially when transplanted to Ireland, and drinkers of Guinness everywhere. “Faricy is the next Carl Hiaasen.” Crime SceneMike Faricy is the author of the bestselling Dev Haskell series as well as the bestselling Corridor Man series which is written under the pseudonym Nick James. He is the winner of the 2016 International Crime Masters Silver Award.
The Last English Village
James Ignizio - 2012
The aircraft is reported to have crashed into the English Channel. There are no survivors and no bodies are recovered. Records of the incident mysteriously go missing. The Susan Rae and its crew vanish, committed to the dustbin of history.On the day the Susan Rae disappears, the English village of Lower Friththingden is the scene of several remarkable events. Two Rolls-Royces are seen parked near the village church. The entourage has paused to listen to the sound of the village children’s choir. Overhead a German parachute mine floats down, heading directly toward the church. Inside are most of the village inhabitants, including a young girl rumored to be the illegitimate child of Winston Churchill.More than a half-century later two men, an embittered American and a reclusive Englishman, have their lives altered as a consequence of the disappearance of the Susan Rae. Vince Collesano, ill, depressed, and alone, travels to England to satisfy his wife’s final request. Seconds before her death she had pointed to a painting of an English churchyard and asked to have her ashes buried there – in the country where she had been born and raised.Unfortunately, Vince has no idea as to just where in England that particular churchyard is located. The promise cannot be kept without the help of his late wife’s cousin, Albert “Bertie” Ambrose, a sad little man who hasn’t ventured outside of London for more than thirty years.Despite Vince’s intense dislike of Bertie, and all things English, the pair team up for what Vince believes to be a search for his wife’s final resting place. Given an ample supply of Marmite, they just may succeed.
Tregunna
Carla Vermaat - 2015
DI Andy Tregunna is faced with the task of leading the investigation, but soon personal matters force him to step back.On compassionate leave and with little else to do than fight his own demons the unsolved case becomes more and more an obsession to him. As he is drawn deeper into a dark world of secrets, lies and revenge, his private investigation collides with his personal life.The truth is even more sinister than can be imagined...
Surfacing (Returning #3)
A.L. Knorr - 2018
Follow Mira's story as she faces life as a single mother, wrestles with the constant call of the ocean to her mermaid nature, and joins an all-male salvage team who is less than thrilled to have her.
When my mother died, I ran to the ocean like a coward. Its cradle of salt puckered my memories and withered my sorrow like a grape drying in the sun. I had cheated grief and was foolish enough to think I had gotten away with it.When Nathan died, I couldn’t run away. No matter how much I flinched, bending toward the Atlantic the way ivy strains for rays of light, I could not leave. Grief was back to take what belonged to it for the time it was allotted. I had everything I wanted a few short years ago. My mate. My daughter. A home, a family. It made my head spin to think how much could change so suddenly. I mused, wondering later if I was the only mermaid to ever walk fully through the five stages of grief. But I had my daughter.Targa had yet to turn, the color and shape of her fins were yet to be revealed, but she would. I had been so sure of it then. Siren genes are passed from mother to daughter, without fail. Young legs melded into a shimmering virgin tail in response to a salty sea. But Targa didn’t turn in response to ocean water, not the first time, not any time after that. Something was wrong. I shoved my fear down deep into some dark corner where Targa would not see it and said with a smile that we’d just have to keep trying. I had turned at the age of three, but if there could be late-bloomers in the human race, why not ours too?Her fifth birthday came and went, still she hadn’t turned. Concern sent its barbs into me like a thistle, then it rooted and grew.Targa and I had weekly late night secret swims in the Atlantic, which had once been fun but were now polluted with expectation and suspense. Coaching sessions (my idea), where I attempted human psychology exercises I’d found in outdated textbooks at the library; guided visualization, breathing techniques, and even a failed go at hypnosis. The memory of her skinny little frame sitting in a bathtub containing more salt than water (Targa’s idea) is still enough to fill my eyes with moisture.I don’t know exactly when she lost hope, but she hid it expertly, patiently participating however I asked.I ignored the creeping thoughts that whispered in my mind; she didn’t even like water, didn’t really want to go for swim, couldn’t hear the ocean calling her. I would shove the thoughts away violently, excusing them as nothing but my own anxiety. It was ridiculous. A daughter of a mermaid who disliked the ocean. Impossible. When I muzzled those fears, I became aware of others of a different kind. Not my own, but hers, for me.She could see the want in my eyes. Whatever mechanism bees and dogs used to smell fear, Targa had it for despair. She could sense it on me, reeking like cheap perfume. Her eyes dipped in desperation, her obvious desire not to disappoint me sliced through me like a white-hot blade from heart to gut. She thought she was my tormentor. The realization struck like a hammer and gave me the strength to do what was needed: Let it go.The ocean could call. I’d let the smell of it crucify me, the sound of its waves crash against me, echo through me, call me, beg me.Targa’s need and my love for her was greater. If she never turned and I was locked in a land-cycle for the rest of our lives, so be it.So be it.
The Estate Box Set
Mel Sherratt - 2014
With over 600 5* and 4* reviews – you can now buy the first three books in the series for the price of two! Somewhere to Hide (Book 1, The Estate)Cath Mason has learned to be tough. The things she’s seen growing up on the Mitchell Estate, she’s had to be. Yet, even broken and beaten by life at times, she’s still the first person a woman in need of help seeks out. At Cath’s house, there is safety in numbers as well as a place to hide. No matter what trouble comes to her door, she won’t turn anyone away – because she knows what it’s like to live with secrets. But now a problem from her past has come back to haunt her, and she’s the one faced with a dilemma. What should she do first – help or be helped – despite being unsure she’ll ever be ready to confront her own demons? With danger around every corner, can Cath protect herself as well as the women whose safety is her paramount concern? Or has the potential for revenge already gone a step too far? Behind a Closed Door (Book 2, The Estate)Working on the notorious Mitchell Estate, housing officer, Josie Mellor, faces challenges every day, but not nearly as many as those of her tenants. Kelly Winterton is scared and alone after her partner has been jailed. Charlotte Hatfield has fled from her violent partner four times already. He’ll probably kill her if he finds her this time. Disowned by her family, someone is taking advantage of Amy Cartwright’s vulnerability. Who can she turn to for support? But Josie has her own problems to deal with too. As her home life deteriorates and she struggles to escape her controlling husband, she realises only a thin line separates her from the people she’s trying to help. When deadly violence erupts, will both she and her tenants become victims that no one will see? Fighting for Survival (Book 3, The Estate)When Caren Williams finds herself back on the estate she fought so hard to get away from, little does she realise she'll be living opposite her arch-enemy, Gina Bradley. Gina Bradley thinks she and her family rule Stanley Avenue so when Caren starts to become popular, she decides to hit her where it will hurt the most – she wants her husband. Lonely and depressed, Ruth Millington finds it a constant struggle to get through the dark times. Spiralling out of control, maybe she should let Gina's husband help her out when he comes calling. Brawling in the street, fighting on the square and conforming to peer pressure – it all comes down to holding your nerve. But this time not everyone will survive the notorious Stanley Avenue...
The Barks & Beans Cafe Mystery Series: Books 1-3
Heather Day Gilbert - 2020
NO FILTER2. ICED OVER3. FAIR TRADEWelcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java...and where murder sometimes pays a visit.Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown...with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
Mommy Loves the Principal
Shanae Johnson - 2019
She’s the girl that went astray. Can they find a place where they’ll both belong… together?
Kylee Bauer’s high school classmates voted her most likely to succeed, not knowing that she would skip town with a bad boy, get hitched, and get pregnant—not necessarily in that order. Now she’s back and desperate for a second chance to get things right, all while ensuring her daughter makes better choices the first time around. Ron Kidd loved growing up in his small Virginia hometown so much that he never thought to leave it behind. Now he’s landed his dream role as principal of the same elementary school he attended as a boy. Some of the more seasoned staff, however, aren’t sure he’s up to the job and will do whatever it takes to make his days harder. When his old crush returns home as a single mom with a troubled kid in tow, Ron is sure he can help… even though he must swallow his feelings for Kylee to avoid losing his already shaky position as school principal. Unfortunately for him, this mini-matchmaker isn’t willing to give up on securing a happily ever after for her mom. Will Ron be willing to risk it all in the name of love? And what will Kylee do when her past comes calling? Will love be just out of reach? Find out in this fun, funny, and heartwarming tale of just how far one little girl will go to bring these two grown-ups together.
The Oak Tree Letters
Lora Lindy - 2014
She loves their new home called Oakley Plantation, especially when she finds old love letters dated back to the Civil War. Unfortunately, she has only one side of them—letters from Lt. Stanton Winston Tate. Little does she know that across the state, a young man named Trevor Whitfield finds the other half—letters from Constantine Oakley. They both research the couple and find lots of history of the old plantation—and some not so good. In the meantime, Sheriff Carlton Adams is trying to solve all the cold cases before he retires. Three murders are left; all were in the late 1800s, and all involve the Oakleys. Fate intertwines their lives and research. When all seems to come to a dead end, a century year old lady named Mable Carter helps. However, her help unveils a curse and the spirits. Can Issy, Trevor and the Sheriff solve the case? Can they undo the curse?
On the Stroke of Midlife (Midlife Moonshine, #1)
Hermione Moon - 2021
I’m definitely having a midlife crisis…I didn’t expect to be single at forty-five, but I’ve always prided myself on facing up to a challenge. A new town, a better job, and a cozy cottage of my own are all at the top of my To Do list. A new man? Right at the bottom. I’m far too busy for love.Returning to the Devon village of Crows Tor on Dartmoor brings a new lease of life for me – in more ways than one. It turns out my old school friend, Fiona, makes a secret moonshine at her whisky distillery using spring water collected under the full moon. Apparently it enhances your psychic powers, and she tempts me to have a shot… or three.I’m thrilled at the prospect of developing my psychic abilities. And then I look into a crystal ball at the May Day fair and have a vision of a murder. Suddenly it’s not such a fun idea after all, especially when my prediction comes true. Consumed by guilt because I didn’t warn the victim, I’m determined to find the killer, even if it puts me in the very path of danger…*The Midlife Moonshine stories are set on Dartmoor in Devon, England, and contain British English spelling and usage. They are clean reads with no graphic violence, strong language, or sex, but they’re packed with magic, mystery, romance, and history – all starring women in the prime of midlife!
The Lady of Dark Lake: A Witch Cozy Mystery
Raven Snow - 2018
Her most recent was leaving home because her parents wouldn’t let her keep a cat. It’s not long before she leaves the city of Atlanta behind only to find herself stranded in the small, mysterious town of Dark Lake. Dark Lake has a lot of secrets, secrets Lady doesn’t want to get herself involved in. She wants nothing more than to get on the next bus out of town, but Dark Lake seems to have other plans. Soon, Lady finds herself mixed up in a possible murder. There was a body found in the eponymous lake of Dark Lake, and she was the one that reported it. Between a grim mystery, a landlady who calls herself a witch, and her tabby cat, Lion, starting to talk to her in her dreams… Lady’s life is taking a downright bizarre turn. First Volume of the Dark Lake Chronicles Series. Approx. 51,000 words in length. It is a standalone (reading prior or future volumes not required to enjoy the book, no cliffhanger).
Hardcore
Larry A. Winters - 2013
But there was one tie to the industry she could not sever. Her sister, Tara, was also a porn star. Two years later, when Tara supposedly commits suicide, Ashley must return to the San Fernando Valley and the life she thought she'd left behind. Now she's not sure who she can trust--especially the handsome new video editor who seems intent on helping her. But she won't leave Los Angeles until she's proven Tara's death was a murder. And until she's faced the killer.One of the most thrilling and original novels of the year,
Hardcore
crackles with sexual tension, great characters, and enough twists to keep mystery and thriller fans turning pages until every secret is revealed.
The Case Of Billy B
Cindy Vine - 2010
Abandoned by his own mother, rejected by all but his loving father, Billy B is thrust into a silent hell alone, branded a freak and a misfit. Billy becomes the ultimate life spectator in a game of survival. Who can he count on to save him, when all seems lost?
Which Pie Goes with Murder?
Ruth Baker - 2021
A name that people would associate with excellence, creativity and fun. She thought she had found her calling in the big city and was on her way to becoming aworld-renowned food blogger...Until she got some tragic news that pulled her back to her small town.Can she still make a name for herself in a small town and survive the the suffocating attention of the citizens of Ivy Creek who think she's too big for her britches?Discover how Lucy navigates her way through a rollercoaster of emotions as she tries to resolve a murder mystery that has her as the prime suspect.She thought running a bakery would be a piece of cake, but she's in for a mighty shock as her fiercest competitior is found dead... in her backyard!Will she acquit her heself in the court of public opinion or become the killer's next victim?Book 1 in the Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery series! Perfect for a lunchtime read. If you want to enjoy a quick light-hearted read, with an amateur female sleuth, mouth-watering culinary desserts and a gripping murder mystery, then you'll love Lucy Hale and all the quirky characters in Ivy Creek.No cliffhanger, swearing or graphic scenes!Treat yourself or a loved one to a copy of Which Pie Goes with Murder to discover how events unfold in this cozy murder mystery
Picture Imperfect (The Leafy Hollow Mysteries Book 7)
Rickie Blair - 2019
A double murder. Can a feisty landscaper save more victims from sketchy deaths? Amateur sleuth Verity Hawkes has solved a whole bouquet of cases. But with an unanswered marriage proposal and her own PI agency hanging in the air, her confidence is dying on the vine. Still, when the local ladies' man is accused of a double murder, she immediately starts digging for answers. After finding the suspect recently inherited a priceless masterpiece, she's convinced the Casanova is innocent. Following a trail of clues into the world of rare art, Verity uncovers dodgy dealers, surprising DNA results, and an alarming number of ingenious booby traps. If she doesn't connect the dots soon, she may run out of time to paint the real killer into a corner... Picture Imperfect is the seventh installment in a series of charmingly funny cozy mysteries. If you like memorable characters, zany action, and laugh-out-loud hijinks, then you'll love Rickie Blair’s twisty whodunit.
Buy Picture Imperfect to draw out a murderer today!
A Perfect Cup of Tea
P. Bodi - 2016
Customers are always stopping by to ask her for help finding herbal remedies and natural products to help them live a healthier life. One morning while opening her store, the local Police showed up to ask a few questions about one of her customers that died from a suspicious death. Could it be murder?