Stay Warm and Read a Good Mystery in February

I don’t know about where you live, but here in North Texas, we are snowed and iced in and have been for the past three days, and frankly – I’m delighted!!!

Nothing better than a snowy day, a big roaring fire in the fireplace and a few cozy mysteries to make me a very happy camper! And fortunately, this month, there is a huge selection of cozies that are sure to please everybody!

Here’s what’s new!

WILD PENANCE: A Wild Mystery #4 (reprint)
By Sandi Ault
Berkley Prime Crime; $14.00

Bureau of Land Management agent Jamaica Wild has always been fascinated by Los Penitentes, a secret, ancient religious group that reenacts Jesus' crucifixion and practices excessive penance. And a recent, dramatic death she witnesses in the Gorge seems to be part of their rituals. But a haunted priest warns Jamaica not to investigate too closely. Too many strange things are happening to let this go. And when someone makes an attempt on her life, Jamaica sets out on a fact-finding mission that could send her over the edge.

A GIFT FOR MURDER: A Market Center Murder – Debut Novel
By Karen McCullough
Gale/Cenage Publishing; $25.95

For fifty-one weeks of the year, Heather McNeil loves her job as assistant to the director of the Washington, D.C. Commerce & Market ShowWashington DC Market Show Center. But the Gifts and Home Decorations trade show, the biggest show of the year at the center, is a week-long nightmare. This year’s version is being worse than usual. Misplaced shipments, feuding exhibitors, and malfunctioning popcorn machines are all in a day’s work. Finding the body of a murdered executive dumped in a trash bin during the show isn’t. The discovery tips throws Heather’s life—personal and professional—into havoc. The police have reason to suspect the victim’s wife killed him, but Heather doesn’t believe it. She’s gotten seen glimmers of an entirely different scenario and possible motive, but questioning exhibitors about the crime doesn’t make her popular with them or with her employers. Still, other lives might be at risk, and if she doesn’t identify the murderer before the show ends, the culprit could well remain free to kill again.

Her only help comes from a company executive with ulterior motives and the Market Center’s attractive new security officer, Scott Brandon. Despite opposition from some of the exhibitors, her employers, and the police, Heather seeks to expose the killer before the show ends. To solve the mystery, she will havehas to risk what’s most important to her and be prepared to fight for answers, her job, and possibly her life.

ANGEL'S VERDICT: A Beaufort & Company Mystery #4
By Mary Stanton
Berkley Prime Crime; $7.99

Celestial advocate Brianna Winston-Beaufort is eager to set aside handling appeals for condemned souls and get back to practicing law in the land of the living. Three months after taking over the family practice Bree jumps at the opportunity to work for an earthly client. But when elderly actress Justine Coville walks into Beaufort & Company's office to make changes to her will, she drags Bree right back into a whole other-world of troubles.

TOWN IN A LOBSTER STEW: A Candy Holliday Mystery #2
By B.B. Haywood
Berkley Prime Crime; $7.99

Things start to boil over at the annual Lobster Stew Cook-Off when an award- winning recipe is stolen and a seven-time contest champion mysteriously disappears-leaving Candy no choice but to find out who in Cape Willington, Maine, would get steamed enough to break the law.

A CRAFTY KILLING: A Victorian Square Mystery – Debut Novel
By Lorraine Bartlett
Berkley Prime Crime; $7.99

The last thing Katie Bonner wanted was to become the manager of Artisans Alley. But when her business partner, Ezra Hilton, is found bludgeoned to death, she has no other choice. Business under Ezra has been faltering-but was it enough to provoke someone to murder? Only Kate can find the answer.

SHOT THROUGH VELVET: A Crime of Fashion Mystery #7
By Ellen Byerrum
Obsidian Mystery; $7.99

Fashion reporter Lacey Smithsonian is touring a failing velvet factory in Virginia on its final day of operations-and finds one of the factory owners dead, lashed to a spool of velvet and soaked in blue dye. The workers are delighted, since they blamed the "Blue Devil" for killing their jobs.

But when another nickname, the "Velvet Avenger", makes the rounds, and ribbons of blue velvet start popping up, it could be more than Lacey's job at stake-it could be her life.

CURIOSITY THRILLED THE CAT: A Magical Cat Mystery – Debut Novel
By Sofie Kelly
Obsidian Mystery; $6.99

When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen's fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there's something more to these felines.

When murder interrupts Mayville's Music Festival, Kathleen finds herself the prime suspect. More stunning is her realization that Owen and Hercules are magical-and she's relying on their skills to solve a purr-fect murder.

STITCH ME DEADLY: An Embroidery Mystery #2
By Amanda Lee
Obsidian Mystery; $6.99

Maggie Singer owns The Seven Year Stitch, an embroidery specialty shop in the small town of Tallulah Falls, Oregon. Trouble strikes when an elderly woman brings an antique piece of embroidery into the shop-and promptly dies of unnatural causes. Now Marcy has to stitch together clues to catch a crafty killer.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: A "Where Are They Now?" Mystery #3
By Toni L. P. Kelner
Berkley Prime Crime; $7.99

Before becoming an action film star, John Laryea appeared on The Blastoffs, a Saturday morning kid's show about a rock band in space. His former co-star, Pete Ellis, now drives a limo for a living. So when someone tries to run Laryea over, Ellis becomes the prime suspect-and it's up to Tilda to clear his name.

POLISHED OFF: A Southern Beauty Shop Mystery #2
By Lila Dare
Berkley Prime Crime: $7.99

Audrey Faye sashays into Violetta's Salon looking for stylists for the Miss Magnolia Blossom pageant. Hairdresser Grace Terhune's opportunity quickly turns into a nightmare with anti-pageant protestors, angry mothers, frantic contestants...and then, a very dead Audrey. The murder weapon was a nail file, making Violetta's manicurist, Stella, the prime suspect. Now Grace must find the real murderer before she is polished off permanently.

DRIP DEAD: A Georgiana Neverall Mystery #3
By Christy Evans
Berkley Prime Crime; $6.99

When plumber's apprentice Georgiana Neverall crawls under her mother's house to check the pipes, she's horrified to find her mother's flashy fiancé, real estate mogul Gregory Whitlock, dead in the dirt. Instead of a wedding ring, Georgiana's mother is soon wearing handcuffs, accused of killing the man she loved. To clear her mother's name, Georgiana's going to have to crawl into a few more dark spaces and uncover secrets Whitlock was hiding.

So, there you go! Some great continuations of established series, and some brand new debut series to enjoy!

Be sure to come back by on February 15th for my interview with Lorraine Bartlett, author of A CRAFTY KILLING: A Victoria Square Mystery!

Until then,
Happy Reading, ya’ll!