Book picks similar to
Pasta, Pirates and Poison by Paula Lester
mystery
paranormal
ghosts
cozy
Cowabunga Christmas
Anna Celeste Burke - 2015
Surf’s up at the exclusive resort they’ve chosen as their honeymoon destination. The Sanctuary Resort and Spa at Corsario Cove has everything: a spectacular location with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, luxurious accommodations, 5-star cuisine, spa services, and a staff that aims to anticipate and meet your every need. A romantic midnight swim in the Club Level terrace pool changes everything when an unexpected guest drops in wearing a Santa Suit with a couple bullet holes in it! Who killed Santa? Kim and Brien are soon swept up in murder and mayhem trying to unravel the mystery.
Spirits in the Material World - a Salem Bookstore Cozy Witch Mystery (The Magical Supernatural Paranormal Witches of Massachusetts Book 1)
Lisa Shea - 2019
She owned a small but popular bookstore in the heart of Salem, Massachusetts. Surrounded by witches and Wiccans, by pagans and spirits, she treasured every day in the historic cobblestone streets. But one of her regulars, Mrs. McGillicuddy, needs help with a troublesome spirit. Amber quickly realizes is that this haunting goes far beyond just a run-of-the-mill poltergeist. It delves into the very heart of Salem's troubled history. * * * Spirits in the Material World - a Salem Bookstore Cozy Witch Mystery is book one in the series The Magical Supernatural Paranormal Witches of Massachusetts. I live near Salem and visit it regularly - this book is chock-full of my own personal observations, visitations, and delight in roaming the streets and alleys of this amazing location. One of my ancestors was Ann Foster - a grandmother who gave in to the accusations at the Salem Witch Trials in order to protect her innocent daughter and granddaughter. Ann was put into jail, age 75, and she soon succumbed to the atrocious conditions there. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this series! I support battered women's shelters.
But Wait, There’s Myrrh
Morgana Best - 2021
Her husband has been playing cat and mouse, and soon Jennifer has a murder to solve. Yet it's all not cat and dried.Changes are happening. Is she simply hiss-terical, or will she take advantage of this new op-purr-tunity?The prequel novella to the Paranormal Women's Fiction Cozy Mystery series, MenoPaws Mysteries, from USA Today Bestselling author, Morgana Best.
Witch of a Godmother
Belinda White - 2020
The natural order of things is for a mother to raise her children. Not the other way around.My new housemate Kimberly doesn't know yet what (or who) her newborn daughter is, but I do. I was there when she was born and shared a short soul-gaze with my own mother. Someday, I'll have to break the news to Kimberly, but not today.Or this week, it looks like. Not with all the shenanigans going on in Wind's Crossing.Who would have thought buying a simple desk at an estate auction would lead to so much trouble for my little shop? The break-ins ticked me off, but I could live with them. I had my own way of handling things like that.But when the last break-in yielded a dead body? Well, a witch has to draw the line somewhere.Besides, I'm a Ravenswind Witch and head priestess of the Gemstone Coven. We don't rest until justice is served. One way or another.
Witch of a Godmother is the first book in the Witch Reborn Series, a Paranormal Witch Cozy Mystery starring none other than Opal Ravenswind, witch extraordinaire. This series is the second series featuring the Gemstone Coven's witches. If you want to start at the very beginning, check out the Accidental Familiar Series.
Magic Bites (Cozy Witch Mysteries Book 1)
Mary Tazzo - 2018
Turmoil, murder, and cookie jar spirits are turning the paranormal world upside down. Katy can’t help digging for clues when Miss Priss turns up dead at the local bowling alley. Too bad her magic is rusty. She’s having a spell of a time finding answers. Magic is only good when you remember how to use it. Teaming up with her best friend, Katy hopes to reveal the truth before it’s too late. With an itch to become a better witch, she knows she’ll need to brush up on her skills, but with no time to spare, she needs to find answers before the killer strikes again. Magic Bites is the first book in the Witch Cozy Mysteries series and offers a family-friendly read with no foul language. Note: previously titled Sand-Witch on Rye
Hyde Park Heist
Bettie Jane - 2018
A generation of lost youth. An elite women’s group determined to find their place in the world. Welcome to Piccadilly Ladies Club. Julia Barlow is an elite member of this all-female club for writers, illustrators, and daughters of accomplished gentleman. She is caught between her desire to prove herself as a respectable journalist in male-dominated 1920’s London and a carefree existence as one of the Bright Young People living life on her terms. When a scavenger hunt at Hyde Park goes badly and her dear friend Jimmie is accused of a heinous crime, Julia finds herself and her friends in the middle of a high-society scandal that could destroy their charmed way of life. Can she clear Jimmie’s name or will her stubborn determination to find her place in the world get her and her friends into even more trouble? Hyde Park Heist is the first book in Piccadilly Ladies Club Mysteries. Join Julia and her best friend Edith on rowdy treasure hunts, at exclusive, often garish house parties, and at speakeasies and jazz clubs where they dance and drink the nights away, challenging the standards of their birthright at every turn.
Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery Books 1-6: The Perfect Series for Crafters, Pet Lovers, and Readers Who Like Upbeat Books!
Joanna Campbell Slan - 2019
The first SIX books in the Kiki Lowenstein Cozy Mystery Series!
FANS OF CLEAN, FUNNY BOOKS FILLED WITH GOOD FRIENDS, FAMILY, FOOD, AND FUR-BABIES REJOICE! You will gobble up these books faster than you can say, “I love chocolate!”Readers looking for a hilarious escape with just the right touch of romance and drama will love these appealing mysteries. Agatha Award finalist and Daphne du Maurier Award winner Joanna Campbell Slan displays a unique gift for turning life’s most dismal moments into humor, making us feel there’s hope for us all. Lovers of feel-good cozy mysteries, especially amusing ones with animals, hobbies and food, will discover a new favorite author. Perfect for readers of Alexander McCall Smith, Hope Callaghan, Amy Vansant, and Carolyn Hart. A sure thing for craft cozy fans of Brianna Bates, Laura Childs, Lois Winston, and Mollie Cox Bryan."A nicely crafted cozy full of amusing moments, real-life insecurities, and scrapbooking tips."--Kirkus ˃˃˃ BOOK #1-- PAPER, SCISSORS, DEATH (AGATHA AWARD FINALIST) JUST BECAUSE HER HUSBAND’S NAKED, DEAD, AND IN A HOTEL BED, it might not be what it seems. Of course it is. (Sigh.) New widow, Kiki Lowenstein, walks out of her pampered life and into a scrapbooking store, turning a hobby into a career. In short order, the police come for her and Family Services come for her daughter. With no other options, this papercrafter turns amateur sleuth.Hobbyists and non-crafters alike will love Kiki. Slan also provides the ultimate warm-and-fuzzy: a wonderful floppy-eared dog. PAPER, SCISSORS,DEATH is the kind of mystery that keeps you turning the pages just to spend time with the characters. ˃˃˃ BOOK #2 -- CUT, CROP & DIE SWEET MEMORIES MADE OF THIS: PASTRY, PIZZA, A POISONOUS PILL AND MURDER? Recovering from financial ruin and her husband’s murder, Kiki Lowenstein’s getting her life back on track until a rival scrapbooker goes into anaphylactic shock and dies. Now Kiki must rely on her new sleuthing skills.“This is without a doubt the best book I have read in ages.” -- Amazon Reviewer ˃˃˃ BOOK #3 -- INK, RED, DEAD AS MANY SECRETS AS PILES OF STUFF. IT ALL HIDES A MURDER IN A HOARDER’S HAVEN” An off-site event goes wrong because the hostess’s house is filled with cats and there’s a body in the freezer! "This [series] should quickly become a favorite." -- Booklist ˃˃˃ BOOK #4 -- PHOTO, SNAP, SHOT A RACIST PAST COMES BACK TO HAUNT ST.LOUIS AND ONLY A MOTHER’S LOVE CAN DEFY IT. Kiki must protect her child’s life by following clues that lead to an ugly chapter of St. Louis’s racist history. (Author’s Note: This book actually resulted in me receiving threats…but I wrote it anyway.) “Ms. Slan is a WRITER!! Not just a hack stringing words with no meaning on a page. She is an honest-to-god writer who does her art brilliantly.” -- Kathy Harris ˃˃˃ BOOK #5 -- MAKE, TAKE, MURDER KIKI FINDS A SEVERED LEG IN A DUMPSTER AND a cryptic message suggests that only she knows why it’s there. Can she prove that an abused wife was murdered and save the woman’s daughter from a similar fate? “There is something in every book that I identify with, whether it be love of food or a f
Mardi Gras Madness
Alison Golden - 2019
A New Orleans adventure. A Mardi Gras murder... Roxy believed that life never gives you more than you can handle. But when she's fired from her wage-slave job, bullied by her co-workers, and her boyfriend abandons her, she decides she’s handled quite enough. Eager for a change of scene, Roxy with her white Persian cat Nefertiti head off to New Orleans. The exotic sights, smells, and food of Mardi Gras coax the shy young woman out of her shell. Booking a room at a rundown guesthouse, Roxy is surrounded by a colorful cast of local characters. From tattooed waitresses to mystical tarot card readers, she quickly makes new friends and leaves her old life behind. But she soon discovers that the Big Easy isn’t all beignets and jambalaya. A wealthy developer is eager to buy the guesthouse where Roxy lives and tear it down… until he turns up dead as a doornail! Before she can say ‘Mon Dieu!’, Roxy is caught up in a diabolical murder mystery… and her new friends are the prime suspects! Roxy is determined to protect her pals, and save her new home. But is this anxious adventurer up to the challenge of solving a murder? Or will she become the killer’s next victim… Cozy mystery fans will love this delicious new series from author Alison Golden. No foul language, no sex, and no gore…Just quirky characters, Cajun food, and a puzzling mystery that will keep readers guessing. Mardi Gras Madness is the first book in the Roxy Reinhardt series. Grab your copy today!
Throw a Monkey Wrench
Karen Chester - 2016
She’s hired to throw a housewarming party for the brash and arrogant Tony Barnet, who’s eager to impress the big end of town. But when the party ends in disaster, Tony is quick to blame Emma, and the subsequent rumors spell doom for Emma’s business. Thank goodness she still has the job of planning Sean and Madison’s wedding. Sean, one of the notorious McCluskey clan, is about to marry Madison, the beautiful daughter of the rich and powerful Whites. But when Tony Barnet is killed, the police swiftly arrest Sean McCluskey. Though the evidence is damning, Emma is convinced her friend is innocent. With Sean facing prison, the wedding in jeopardy, and her fledgling business in danger of tanking, Emma must unravel the mystery and expose the real killer before it’s too late. The Emma Cassidy Mystery series: Book 1: Throw a Monkey Wrench Book 2: Pushed to the Limit Book 3: Murder Most Likely (coming in 2016)
Mojitos & Murder: A Tropical Witch Mystery
Sara Bourgeois - 2017
She'll have to deal with sun, surf, and tourists. (gross) Oh, and a dead body turns up right as she's getting acquainted with the island. Starla will have to clear her name and steer clear of a grumpy Clownfish Cay Police officer who has already decided that she's as guilty as sin. This is book 1 in the Wicked Witches of Clownfish Cay series.
Murder in the Aisle
Kris Pearson - 2019
That’s until Vicar Paul and I find Isobel Crombie lying dead in a sea of flowers in the aisle of Saint Agatha’s church. Who’d kill a harmless old girl like her?In no time flat I’ve scored a house-and-pet sitting gig – Isobel’s remote seaside cottage and her two darling dogs. It comes complete with hollyhocks and seagulls and a SEAL from California who looks a lot like a younger Jon Bon Jovi. He's certainly cute, but aren’t his questions about Isobel's house a bit – well, suspicious? Then I find a secret office stuffed with alarming files about car thefts and Black Ops assassins. Maybe Isobel wasn't as harmless as we all thought? Sleuthing’s more fun than I’ve had in ages, but how safe am I on my own now things are unraveling? Little white Bichons are hopeless attack dogs.
A Murder in Hope's Crossing
Brooke Shelby - 2019
Relocating to the idyllic New England town of Hope’s Crossing, where her family has settled since its founding, should be a welcome refresh. Aunt Clara is eager to retire and hand Maggie the keys to her store. And her new home might even help Maggie awaken her family’s rumored witchy powers. Maggie’s plans have all the makings of a spell for success—until the sorcery turns sour. Not long after the move, Aunt Clara is murdered in retaliation for an act of charity. Since Maggie inherits Clara’s small fortune, shop, and home, all eyes turn to her. With no witnesses and no suspects with an obvious motive, Maggie is framed as the perfect killer. Proving her own innocence is an uphill battle, especially when other descendants of Salem Witch Trial survivors like her are under constant threat and persecution in the pious town. To clear her name, Maggie will have to draw on the kindness of a few quirky residents, her aunt’s crafty cat, and her own blossoming supernatural powers. With a deadly criminal on the loose, the newest witch in town might be the best chance Hope’s Crossing has to defeat murder with magic…
Father Knows Death: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Christy Murphy - 2018
New Magic. Double Trouble. Two weeks after their birthday, twins Joy and Didi discover they’re going through “The Change” also known as the time when late-blooming witches get their magic. That would be fun news except they descend from a line of ancient witches with magic that skews evil. To make sure they're not following in their ancestor's footsteps, the Witches High Council demands they prove their innocence by undergoing "a trial." But this is no ordinary trial.In order to prove their innocence, the twins have to help a mortal solve the death of his true love while proving their internal goodness. With the help of their rule-breaking, witch mom, their fairy godparents—the Greek Titaness Themis and Death—and their suicidal client, Didi and Joy find themselves immersed in a world of mortal mob crime, magic, and even a ghost.Will they pass the test, or will they be sentenced to death?If you love paranormal witch cozies with cats, comedy, and a touch of romance, you'll love this new cozy mystery series. Each book complete. Read in any order.
Tail Wagging Trouble
Leona Fox - 2016
Now, Ellen is fully invested in finding the murderer. With handsome police chief Andy, her precocious friend Kelly, and Scampy the dog by her side, Ellen is determined to find the killer before he or she goes free.
Designs On Murder
Gayle Leeson - 2019
She didn't realize a ghost came with the property! But soon Maxine "Max" Englebright, a young woman who died in 1930, isn't the only dead person at the retail complex. Mark Tinsley, a web designer with a know-it-all attitude who also rented space at Shops On Main, is shot in his office. Amanda is afraid that one of her new "friends" and fellow small business owners is his killer, and Max is encouraging her to solve Mark's murder a la Nancy Drew. Easy for Max to want to investigate--the ghostly fashionista can't end up the killer's next victim! “As a sucker for a fun ghost story, I can say Gayle Leeson’s DESIGNS ON MURDER scores on many levels including a spunky entrepreneur and a charming setting. Now that I’ve read the first one, I’ll be counting the days until the next in the series arrives.” --Lorna Barrett, author of the New York Times Bestselling Booktown Mysteries In DESIGNS ON MURDER, Gayle Leeson sketches a stylish plot accessorized with a spectral fashionista sidekick. This series debut is a delight!" -Diane Vallere, national bestselling author