Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit.  Of course, my listeners know the library has over 25,000 books to choose from, but why not try a cozy type read to fit in with the cozier fall weather? This is my last cozy mystery review for a little while, but be sure to browse the library’s mystery section for more titles, or ask a librarian for some recommendations.

Cleo Coyle, the author of this week’s review is actually the pseudonym for a successful husband and wife writing team.  A Brew to Kill is the eleventh in the successful coffeehouse mystery series.  The library doesn’t have the other volumes at this time, but they are always available on interlibrary loan.  However, A Brew to Kill can be read on its own with no confusion.  Clare Cosi, owner of the Greenwich Village coffee shop called the Village Blend, has purchased a food truck to sell muffins to keep ahead of the competition.  But when a mystery vehicle mows down a good friend, Clare is on high alert.  Then, what was supposed to be a shipment of coffee beans turns out to be drugs.  Clare’s ex-husband is still a business partner, but could he really be into trafficking drugs?  And was that hit and run meant for Clare?  Clare now has quite a mystery to solve with her ex-husband plus, a young and brash undercover cop as a new employee.  The back of the book has quite a large recipe section covering both sweet and savory foods. The author provides a website with even more recipe selections to muse over.   

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


A Brew to Kill by Cleo Coyle.
ISBN: 9780425255506, 370 pages.
Adult mysteries.

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit. Of course, my listeners know the library has over 25,000 books to choose from, but why not try a cozy type read to fit in with the cozier fall weather? For the next two weeks I’ll be reviewing books considered to be cozy mysteries – mysteries that have an element of domesticity and a focus on the relationships formed within the book instead of just grisly murder.

Many cozy mysteries have food at their center, but this week’s review of Going Through the Notions by debut author Cate Price focuses on Daisy Buchanan and her husband who, as a retired couple, run a sewing accessories and antiques shop in the sleepy hamlet of Sheepsville, Pennsylvania. At a local auction, Daisy has her eye on a few antiques for her shop. And Angus the auctioneer is an old friend, so perhaps bidding will go her way. However, even before the first “sold!” of the day Angus is arrested for bashing in the head of an old drinking buddy. Trouble is, Angus had a few too many the night before and can’t remember a thing. Daisy doesn’t believe Angus could do such a thing, and it’s up to her to stitch together the pieces. The action starts in chapter 1 of this book and doesn’t wrap until the very last page. After the story are some crafting ideas, yard sale tips, and of course a recipe. Cate Price does a great job of creating quirky characters and a fun small town setting. If you like authors Susan Wittig Albert or Laura Childs, be sure to give this title a try.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Going Through the Notions by Cate Price
ISBN: 9780425258798, 293 pages.
Adult Mystery

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit.  Of course, my readers know the library has over 25,000 books to choose from, but why not try a cozy type read to fit in with the cozier fall weather? For the next three weeks I’ll be reviewing books considered to be cozy mysteries – mysteries that have an element of domesticity and a focus on the relationships formed within the book instead of just grisly murder.

In her debut book, Plum Deadly, new author Ellie Grant weaves elements of a murder mystery, romance, and family drama into one story.  Successful businesswoman Maggie Grady is forced from her banking job when she is accused of cooking the books.  Maggie retreats to her Aunt Clara’s in the South and cooking of a different kind – pie making.  Aunt Clara sees this as an opportunity to lure Maggie to the family business, while Maggie herself is trying her best to return to the financial world.  It seems Maggie is saved when her old boss Lou calls to say he’s found the real crook.  The only problem is, before Lou can exonerate Maggie he’s found dead behind Aunt Clara’s pie shop.  Now Maggie is in the spotlight again, as are Aunt Clara’s pies!  Add into the mix a local reporter who may have more than just a journalistic interest in Maggie and this story just about has it all!  An epilogue at the end of the book lures readers neatly into the next story in the series, which hasn’t been published yet.  In the meantime, readers can try the piecrust, lemon meringue, cherry, and coconut custard pie recipes.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


Plum Deadly by Ellie Grant
ISBN: 9781451689556, 296 pages.
Adult Mystery

Hi!  This is Rachel Malay, director at the Port Library in Beloit.  The evenings are ever so slowly getting cooler, which always brings fall activities like football, pumpkin themed recipes, and more indoor activities like reading! Of course, my listeners know the library has over 25,000 books to choose from, but why not try a cozy type read to fit in with the cozier fall weather? For the next four weeks I’ll be reviewing books considered to be cozy mysteries – mysteries that have an element of domesticity and a focus on the relationships formed within the book instead of just grisly murder.    
           
The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star is the fourth book by Susan Wittig Albert in the Darling Dahlias series.  If Susan Wittig Albert sounds familiar, that is because she has two other cozy mystery series that the library carries.  Set in the town of Darling, Alabama in the 1930s, the Darling Dahlias are a gardening club on the surface, but of course the ladies of the club can’t help but solve local crime problems.  This time Texas aviatrix star Lily Dare is in town to put on an airshow during the local watermelon festival, but some nefarious meddler has sabotaged her airplane, but perhaps not without reason.  Rumors abound about the affairs of Lily Dare, but the Darling Dahlias garden club comes around to get to the bottom of all the nasty rumors, and hopefully prevent any loss of life, whether on the ground or in the air.  The back of this book has not only good southern recipes to try in the kitchen, but also some home beauty treatments popular in the 1930s and still effective today.  So, even if the story itself seems to fall flat, you can try your luck with the recipes.

You can get the book reviewed here and more great titles to watch, read, listen to, or play with at the Port Library at 1718 N. Hersey in Beloit, on the North Campus. This is director Rachel Malay, saying “Thanks for checking us out!”


The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star by Susan Wittig Albert.
ISBN: 9780425260586, 304 pages.
Adult Fiction