Book picks similar to
Pelican Cove Collection by Leena Clover


mystery
mystery-cozy
anthology
first-in-series

Murder is a Family Business


Heather Haven - 2011
    But the 34-year old Latina, WASP and 100% detective has her work cut out for her when the man is murdered on her watch. Of all the nerve. Set in the present, Murder is a Family Business is the first in a series of humorous mysteries revolving around Lee Alvarez, and rest of the Alvarez Family, detectives all. Seemingly light and frothy on the surface, the novel nevertheless explores familial love, the good, the bad and the annoying.Completing the family is Lee's Never-Had-A-Bad-Hair-Day aristocratic mother, Lila; computer genius brother, Richard; beloved uncle "Tio;" and her energetic orange and white cat, Tugger. When this group is not solving murders, they run Discretionary Inquiries, a successful Silicon Valley agency that normally deals with the theft of computer software. The love, humor and camaraderie shared within this family are what set this series apart from others.

Three More Dogs in a Row


Neil S. Plakcy - 2018
    in Dog Bless You, clue-sniffing golden Rochester digs up a long-buried human hand at the site of his human dad Steve's new job. In Whom Dog Hath Joined, Rochester's at it again, sniffing out a mystery with its roots in the Quaker efforts to help Vietnam war resisters. In Dog Have Mercy, it's Christmas and Steve and Rochester need to help clear the name of an ex-con working at their vet's office. Don't worry-- Rochester is never going to come to harm, though he and Steve certainly get into trouble!

The Dessert Corpse


Tracey Quinn - 2018
    The Breezy Spoon is a big success, and when hunky and flirtatious fireman Mark Adams offers to rent Dani his downstairs apartment, things are really looking up.... until a dead body with a chocolate pie smashed in his face shows up in the dumpster behind the diner! Trying to get to the bottom of the mystery isn't easy when dealing with the quirky and eccentric residents of East Spoon Creek City, and it gets even harder when the body keeps disappearing and popping up around town! There's not a moment to lose when dark secrets threaten to come to light, and Dani discovers that one of her customers just might be a serial killer!

The Bennett Sisters Mysteries Vol 1-4


Lise McClendon - 2017
    A dead husband with a secret life is always a winner (fictionally speaking, of course), but what about a secret past for a special treat? In fact, a past so secret even Harry the husband didn't know about it. That’s the delicious underpinning of this sprawling, exuberant, generous-spirited cozy mystery series with a yummy side of international adventure.A little bit chick lit, a touch of cozy mystery, a whole lot of humor, romance, suspense—all in one box set!BLACKBIRD FLY – Book OneA dead husband might be sadder except that once Harry dies, his widow, Merle Bennett realizes almost immediately it was no wonder she didn't know anything about him. They’d pretty much been leading separate lives—several of them, as it turns out. Still, the will’s quite a shock. And so is an intriguing surprise—Harry left her a family home in a tiny French village. Or maybe a family home. Because who was Harry’s family? Finding out is half the fun.Merle sets out to claim her inheritance, adolescent son in tow, and thus begins a sojourn reminiscent of A Year in Provence mixed up with something by Carolyn Hart, maybe, or M.C. Beaton. Because Malcouziac, Merle’s tiny Dordogne town, is the quintessential village—just perfect for a murder. And a rollicking good time. THE GIRL IN THE EMPTY DRESS – Book TwoLaw practice is in the Bennett sisters' blood—along with designer suits and stilettos. But they've decided to ditch the more predictable Caribbean cruise or spa weekend at a five star hotel to celebrate Merle Bennett's 50th birthday hiking the French countryside of Dordogne. There’s just one catch: Merle’s little sister Francie has decided to bring along a sixth wheel: a work colleague named Gillian Sargent, whose utter aloofness wouldn’t be so bad. Except she seems to be hiding something…GIVE HIM THE OOH-LA-LA – Book ThreeIt’s Bridget Jones does Christmas in the Big Apple, and this year it promises to be especially festive, as all five Bennett sisters are in town for a very special occasion: Annie, the oldest Bennett, is engaged at the tender age of fifty-five. But while Bohemian Annie is securely and happily in love with a devoted fiancé, Merle-in-the-middle is navigating the roller coaster of her own love life: Pascal, her one-time French summer fling, has unexpectedly flown to New York for the holidays. But why? A relationship ultimatum? Or is there something more mysterious in the works? Because a festive family outing to a drag revue at Pascal’s request just begs more questions to be answered…and the unfolding of dangerous connections to Merle’s own family.THE THINGS WE SAID TODAY – Book FourAnnie is finally getting hitched to Callum Logan in the picture-postcard idyllic Scottish Highlands. The mother of the groom has generously put up the Bennett family in her Kincardie House estate, a gorgeous hunting lodge that’s been in the Logan family for generations. But Annie has reservations. Meanwhile, Merle and Francie are navigating relationship crises of their own.

The Long Paw of the Law


Laurie Anne Marie - 2015
    Ashley Crane is busy nursing a broken heart, working tirelessly as a cook, and hanging out with her family and best friends when her boss at the restaurant is murdered. At first the investigation is left to Nathaniel Thompson, the local handsome police detective. But when Thompson arrests the wrong suspect, Ashley takes the investigation into her own hands. Solving the case won't be easy. She'll need help from her parents April and Burt, her best friends Sean and Lara, and her cute and clever cat Charlie. It's up to Ashley Crane to find the real murderer in Comfortville before they strike again.

BBQ, Bikers, and Murder


Summer Prescott - 2016
    Faced with the reality of starting a new life with her teenage son, after her heroic husband is killed in the line of duty, she knows that she has to do whatever it takes to survive.Irresistibly drawn to a mysterious little building in a small town, the determined single mom uses every dime she's got to buy it, with plans to turn it into a diner that her late husband would have loved. When Rossalyn finds herself caught up in the middle of a murder investigation, however, she begins to wonder if the challenges she faces will defeat her.A body is found on her property, the sheriff in town suspects Rossie of the murder, and it looks like her world is falling apart. It's up to this determined mom to prove her innocence and save her small family. Can she do it?

Death of a Celebrity


Eleanor Calder - 2015
    Full of fun, laughter, warm characters and a strong female sleuth. Its amazing twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end!” Former Bestselling mystery writer turned innkeeper, Harriet Rose arrives in Sandy Creek, Cape Cod only to find herself at the center of a world famous celebrity murder case. When her friend is accused, Harriet must uncover the clues, secrets and lies that lead to the identity of the murderer. With the help of her dog, Bentley and her crazy friend and co-worker, Libby, Harriet must race against time to catch the perpetrator before they get away with another murder. Note: You won't find any cursing, gore or sex in this book. If you are searching for a traditional cozy mystery set in a coastal town that will keep you turning pages, this is the series for you! Harriet Rose Mystery books are full novels with an enticing mystery to solve. They are all stand alone reads. The following books are best enjoyed in this order: Death of a Celebrity: Harriet Rose Mystery #1 Death of a Liar: Harriet Rose Mystery #2 Death of a Salesman: Harriet Rose Mystery #3

Clocks Locks and Danger: A Button Up Detective Agency Cozy Mystery #1


Lizzie Lewis - 2020
    Sam Jones was a detective with the local CID, and Janika is determined to prove he was murdered. Realising she has detective skills of her own, she trains to be a private investigator, and sets up an office above the Button Up coffee shop owned by Abi Wells, a girl she knew at school as Abi Button.Calling her business the Button Up Detective Agency, Janika sets out to find her own cases to investigate, having been warned by the police not to investigate her husband’s murder. But that’s something she can’t resist when the opportunity arises. When things turn nasty, who can she trust?Told by Janika Jones, this is a slightly darker cozy mystery spin-off from the series of six Abi Button Cozy Mystery Romance books, also by Lizzie Lewis. Although mainly about Janika, she interacts with many of the main Abi Button story characters.

Clam Chowder and a Murder


Kathleen Suzette - 2018
     Everyone had reason to kill her. But will Rainey or her mother, Mary Ann, be accused of Celia’s death? Celia had made it clear how much she disliked Mary Ann Daye. Did Mary Ann feel her only relief from Celia’s lies was to kill her? Rainey needs to find out the truth about who killed Celia Markson, even if that means implicating the people she’s closest to. You’ll love this culinary cozy mystery because everyone loves an amateur detective trying to do what’s right. Get it now. Free with Kindle Unlimited.

A Sweet Murder


Gillian Larkin - 2014
    You will also get two other short stories free.A cozy murder mystery with ghosts.Ever since the car accident that claimed her parents’ lives Grace Abrahams has been able to see ghosts. She meets them at storage locker auctions that she goes to with her brother, Frankie.In ‘A Sweet Murder’ Grace meets the ghost of an older woman – Connie Flamingo. Connie was the head of the hugely successful Flamingo Sweets. Connie can’t remember how she was murdered but knows that it was committed by someone close to her.As Grace investigates the mystery she soon finds out that many members of Connie’s family had plenty to gain from her death. Furthermore, investigating Connie’s death has an unfortunate side effect on Grace.As always, Pearl, the resident ghost at Grace’s shop, is on hand to offer advice.

Teepees & Trailer Parks


Hope Callaghan - 2015
    90 MINUTES). If you prefer longer cozy mysteries, be sure to check out Garden Girls and Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series of books."Teepees & Trailer Parks" - Episode 1 in the Sweet Southern Sleuths Short Stories: A Cozy Mysteries Women Sleuths Series.Loretta Sweet and her identical twin sister, Lacy, have recently inherited a home in Misery, Mississippi, from their distant relative, (Aunt) Tess McCoy. Their aunt's attorney insists that the girls meet him at the property to discuss the specifics of the will.When the sisters arrive for the meeting, they discover that there is more...much more to the will than just inheriting a home.As the attorney prepares to go over the details of the will, one of the "stipulations" makes a dramatic appearance, along with a body that is found in the bathtub.Will the Sweet sisters turn tail and run or will they stick around to help solve the murder?

Dog Groomer Mysteries: Books 1-5


Chelsea Thomas - 2021
    But far from enjoying the beautiful SoCal sunshine — hanging with her pups and eating good food — Amy pokes her nose where it is most definitely not wanted.Into a murder investigation.It’s not long before Amy gets targeted as a major suspect. But Amy and her grumpy Granny are smart and determined to solve the mystery. They won’t rest until the killer is behind bars, and they won’t stop no matter how dangerous their lives become.(That’s really, really dangerous.)Dog Groomer Mysteries, Books 1-5A New Leash on LifeRuff and TumbleTo Fetch a KillerTail of Two KillersHowl to Get Away With Murderand Big Apple Pie - A Bonus Crossover Story

Maddie's Recipe of Mysteries


Emily Page - 2015
    a bitter dose of death! For baker Madeline McDougal, life is sweet, literally. As a bakery owner, Madeline spends her days baking a large variety of tasty treats. A skill passed down to her by her late Mother. Madeline's pastries are a hit with not just locals, but people from all across the country. But as of late... business has been waning. Yet everything changes when Madeline notices that the backdoor of her shop has been tampered with, and is led to an even more gruesome discovery. When the local police chief begins his investigation, Madeline becomes the prime suspect. Is she really a suspect? Or just a pawn in a dangerous game?

Stilettos & Scoundrels


Laina C. Turner - 2020
     Freelance journalists fight for their assignments, and Presley thinks she’s won the battle when she’s hired to interview pompous womanizer Senator Daniels. But when the senator turns up dead a day later, Presley climbs right to the top of the senator’s security team’s suspect list. A security team run by her high school ex-boyfriend. Can she prove her innocence and not fall for the one guy she swore she’d never look in the eye again, or will she wind up with a lifetime gig in prison?

Case of the One-Eyed Tiger


Jeffrey M. Poole - 2020
    Armed with a determination to clear his name, Zack sets out to solve the case with the help of a feisty canine companion with an uncanny ability to sniff out clues. With evidence mounting against him, can Zack identify the killer and locate the missing sculpture before he ends up in the doghouse?