Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Murder Mysteries

PUPPIED To DEATH: A Dog Lover’s Cozy Mystery, Barkview Mysteries Book 9 by C.B. Wilson – Cozy Animal Mysteries, Murder Mysteries, Amateur Sleuths

Puppied to Death: A Dog Lover’s Cozy Mystery by C.B. Wilson takes television editor-in-chief Cat Hawl from the quiet seaside town of Barkview to the lush landscapes of Hawaii on a mission to find her missing sister, Lani.

The scene for book 9 in this award-winning series is laid when Professor Aimee Loong hires Lani as a dog sitter for her French bulldog, Oolong. As Lani and Aimee grew closer, she joins Aimee in her search for a family artifact of significant value — a Chinese lacquered box that has been missing for centuries.

It matches two other similar boxes, and when brought together they are rumored to contain a powerful message: How to grow the best Oolong tea, a variety that dates back to the time of the Chinese emperors. Although this appears to be of minor importance to the common person, to Professor Loong’s family the tea’s value is immeasurable. If Aimee finds the missing box, her family’s farm could rely on that secret technique for many more successful years producing the prized tea.

But when the professor is found dead and Lani vanishes, Cat enters the picture. She must rely on her wits — and the help of her Mahjong-loving mother and a group of amateur sleuths — to uncover the truth.

Wilson weaves a complex mystery filled with unexpected twists and charming characters.

Fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate the quirky cast, from the fiercely loyal Mahjong Mamas to the ever-watchful bulldog who holds more secrets than he lets on. The interplay between Hawaiian culture, ancient family rivalries, and modern-day murder gives this story a fresh, engaging angle.

The storyline gives readers enough curious details to keep them eagerly turning the pages as they search for clues. As heart pounding excitement builds, you are immersed in the danger of a rivalry that stretches back to the days when the emperor sat upon his throne in the Forbidden City.

As with previous entries in the Barkview Mysteries, Wilson doesn’t shy away from blending humor, heart, and suspense.

Puppied to Death balances the charm of its dog-centric world with a genuinely puzzling mystery that will keep readers guessing. Pair that with well-developed characters who you’ll root for throughout the adventure, and you’re in for a T-R-E-A-T.

For dog lovers and cozy mystery fans alike, Puppied to Death delivers a satisfying tale of intrigue and charm. Whether this is your first visit to Barkview or you’ve followed Cat’s adventures from the start, this delightful ninth installment will leave you eager for the next mystery to unfold.

March 26, 2025
A HAUNTING At LINLEY: A Henrietta and Inspector Howard Novel by Michelle Cox – Cozy Mysteries, Murder Mysteries, Women Sleuths

Dire darkness descends upon Castle Linley in A Haunting at Linley by award-winning author Michelle Cox. Lord Linley is dead, black blankets and sashes cover windows, mirrors, and all sources of light. Mourning overtakes all—well, almost all.

Henrietta and her husband, Inspector Clive Howard, return to England and the estate. They come to offer comfort, but quickly discover the family needs much more help than anticipated.

Lord Linley’s death is only the first.

Another death follows, and it’s clearly murder. The killer remains a threat among the estate’s residents and guests, who witness yet more extraordinary and concerning activities.

Henrietta and Clive find Lady Linley beside herself with grief. Her son Wallace shows patience with his mother but has his hands full with his own emotions and the practical concerns of the estate. A fast-evolving financial crisis due to pending taxes and other complications demands immediate action. After all, Wallace is now Lord Linley.

Henrietta and Clive help where they can. Wallace decides to quickly put the estate, or at the very least parts of the estate, up for sale. He presses on despite great resistance from his mother and other people involved.

A local realtor arrives to show the home to a potential buyer, but the sale is called off when the agent is found poisoned. Everyone at the estate becomes suspects. A local inspector begins questioning them, but, with Clive’s own background as an inspector and the investigations he and Henrietta have conducted, the duo grow concerned that the local police may be inept. To solve the murder, they have to open their own investigation.

The family, guests, and staff at Castle Linley all have their own distinct and compelling motives to uncover.

As Clive and Henrietta explore different possibilities and question the suspects, they run into personal danger. The haunting of the castle adds a further eerie dimension to the facts of the case, as Lady Linley is certain the culprit must be the spirit of a maid who had been hanged.

In the meantime, other family members outside England are left to manage crises of their own. Elsie and Gunther are living peacefully on a farm in Omaha, meeting life’s struggles head on. Then Elsie is stunned to find Oldrich Exely at their door one day. He has an idea for a specific course of action Elsie must take to change her life, and he is determined to make her comply. Julia struggles with terrible marital issues. Melody is plunged into mischief and can’t find her way out. The historical setting of the 1930’s is well presented across this variety of locales.

The award-winning duo of Henrietta and Inspector Howard continues with a complex new puzzler in this seventh book of the series.

A Haunting at Linley maintains the cozy, suspenseful plotting. It’s filled with interesting clues that invites readers to try to solve the mystery alongside the investigators.

Each character remains consistent in personality throughout the series and is fascinating to follow and analyze as their character continue to develop throughout each book. An abundant array of suspects are on display for the reader to scrutinize their actions, motivations, and secrets. As the suspense builds on every page, the apparent paranormal incidents will keep you wondering who or what has taken up A Haunting at Linley.

A Haunting at Linley by Michelle Cox won Grand Prize in the 2023 CIBA M&M Awards for Cozy and Not-So-Cozy Mysteries.

December 9, 2024
FLOWERS Of EVIL: Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Book 1 by N.L. Holmes – Historical Mysteries, Ancient Egypt, Murder Mysteries

In Flowers of Evil by N.L. Holmes, a new generation steps up to face the dangers and intrigue of murder in Ancient Egypt.

The people of Egypt are bustling despite the heat, businesses are thriving, devotion is a way of life, and families are at the pulsing heart of society. Not all is happiness, however. The city hides deceit, malice, and ambition in the shadows. Here, a lethal hand wields a sharp knife. Desperate to save her bleeding patient, Lord Hani’s daughter applies all her medical knowledge. But evil wins and Neferet watches her innocent patient ‘pass to the West’.

She cannot let such a ruthless murder rest until she finds out who did it.

Neferet has seen her father face the dangers of investigation in the past, but she’s determined to follow through for the chief florist of the Hidden One’s temple and to solve the mystery that turned his flowers of beauty into Flowers of Evil. Is she prepared to face the perils ahead?

Lord Hani’s family is a vibrant clan, and his daughter has never shied away from a challenge. Despite the biases and societal rules of ancient Egypt, she has studied healing and medicine in the pursuit of helping people, especially children.

The studies were challenging enough, but after opening the doors of her practice she’s seen few patients seek her services. Neferet confides sadly to her fellow healer and partner, Bener-ib, that patients do not come to them because they do not trust two young women with their health. They vow to change people’s minds. An early-morning patient defies this bias because of desperation, bringing the suffering florist to the women’s doorstep, bleeding vociferously. There is no question this man has been murdered.

Neferet’s father is concerned about his daughter’s involvement in a murder investigation. He worries not only about the violence of a killer, but about the malice of a rival healer, and a potential confrontation with his own sworn enemy – the former chief of police, Mahu. But father and daughter are much alike, and despite Hani’s misgivings, Neferet continues on her investigation, with help from Bener-ib and their medical assistant, a youth who exhibits remarkable detective skills. When the mystery takes a diabolical turn, will Neferet muster the courage to nip the killer in the bud?

Author Holmes creates a compelling historical mystery, full of detail and curiosity.

Flowers of Evil immerses readers deeply into the historical world of Ancient Egypt. Visual descriptions give a colorful perspective in the midst of the culture and community, of the time. This story is a vivid visit to a place long since gone to the sands of history. N.L. Holmes proves herself both a professional archaeologist and an extraordinary storyteller.

This is the first book in the Hani’s Daughter Mysteries, and warmly welcomes readers back to the world and characters of the much-loved Lord Hani Mysteries series. Neferet takes the helm with an exciting and treacherous tale.

October 6, 2023