June's Cozy Reads

The good old summertime is finally here! And with those brilliant days of sunshine and more leisure time comes a beach bag–full of cozy mysteries that will help you while away those lazy hours. This month finds books from favorite authors as well as debut writers. Take a look at what's new!

June's Highlight Book of the Month:

SMARTY BONES: A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery
By Carolyn Haines (Minotaur Books)

Professor Olive Twist has come to Zinnia, Mississippi to study a mysterious grave wherein lies the Lady in Red, a perfectly preserved and stunningly beautiful but unnamed and unclaimed body. Olive claims she can not only identify the corpse, she can also prove the woman's scandalous role in the nation's history. Olive takes it a step too far, though, when she starts connecting elite Zinnia families with the same scandal.

Dander up, Zinnia's society ladies know only one way to handle Olive: they call on the private investigative services of Sarah Booth Delaney. But Olive's real agenda is clear as Mississippi mud, and when Sarah Booth discovers a present–day dead body, she knows there's more than just family pride and Southern heritage at stake. If she can't find the murderer and fast, it might just be Sarah Booth's life on the line next.

Carolyn Haines continues her charming mystery series with "Smarty Bones." She captures the heart of the South in her tales, without portraying the characters as dull or slow – quite the opposite. Sarah Booth and her friends are intelligent, witty and very fast to get the gist of the problem and jump to finding solutions. Haines colors her tale with the quirky aspects of the South that give it the snap and pop that readers have come to expect from this series.

I was fascinated by the historical side note that is at the heart of this story – the legend of "The Lady In Red." Haines explains in the beginning of the book that there actually was the coffin of a mysterious lady dug up in a field in Mississippi, and the body had been embalmed in alcohol, preserving it perfectly.

Carolyn Haines once again shows why she is considered one of the most beloved Southern mystery authors today with this bright and charming novel. You can read "Smarty Bones" as a stand–alone novel, but do yourself a favor and check out the rest of the series – you'll be so glad you did!

June's Debut Book of the Month:

MAYHEM AT THE ORIENT EXPRESS: A League of Literary Women Mystery #1
By Kylie Logan (Berkley Prime Crime)

At a local Chinese restaurant, it's the owner who gets taken out.

Most folks aren't forced by court order to attend a library–book discussion group, but that's just what happens to B&B proprietor and ex–Manhattanite Bea Cartwright, hippy cat lover Chandra Morrisey, and winery owner Kate Wilder after a small–town magistrate has had enough of their squabbling. South Bass, an island on Lake Erie, is home to an idyllic summer resort, but these three ladies keep disturbing the peace.

The initial book choice is Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, and that sets their mouths to watering. The Orient Express is the island's newest Chinese restaurant. They might not agree about much, but the ladies all love the orange chicken on the menu. But their meal is spoiled when the restaurant's owner, Peter Chan, has the bad fortune of getting murdered. Now, with Christie as their inspiration, the League of Literary Ladies has a real mystery to solve...if they can somehow catch a killer without killing each other first.

(Sharon's Note: This promises to be a very fun series! Lot of humor, a great mystery to solve, and a cast of quirky characters – all the right elements for a wonderful read!)

Other Titles You Might Enjoy:

Hardbacks:

A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY: A Bibliophile Mystery #7
By Kate Carlisle (Obsidian)

Brooklyn has always been a little obsessed with food, but it was her sister Savannah who became a chef, graduating from the prestigious Cordon Bleu school in Paris. She and her classmates all went on to successful careers, but none of them achieved culinary superstardom like Savannah's ex–boyfriend Baxter Cromwell.

When Baxter invites the old gang to participate in his new restaurant's gala opening in San Francisco, Savannah looks forward to seeing her friends, and even asks Brooklyn to restore a tattered cookbook—an old gift from Baxter—as a present for him. But Brooklyn immediately recognizes that the book, which has strange notes and symbols scrawled in the margins, is at least two hundred years old. She thinks that it probably belongs in a museum, but Savannah insists on returning it to Baxter.

Shortly after receiving the gift, Baxter is found dead, with Savannah kneeling over him, bloody knife in hand, and the rare cookbook has disappeared. Brooklyn knows her sister didn't kill him, and she suspects the missing cookbook might lead to the real villain. Now Brooklyn will have to turn up the heat on the investigation before Chef Savannah finds herself slinging hash in a prison cafeteria.

CLOSE KNIT KILLER: A Knitting Mystery #11
By Maggie Sefton (Berkley Prime Crime)

Springtime in Fort Conner, Colorado, is a breeze until a veteran con man shows up in town. Everyone, including the House of Lambspun knitters, is up in arms, and once again it's up to Kelly Flynn to untangle the threads of a complicated crime.

Kelly's good friend Mimi Shafer, the owner of the House of Lambspun, has something exciting up her sleeve. Her knitting shop has outgrown itself and she is looking to turn an old storage building into a classroom space for her shop's spinners and weavers.

But when an old familiar face shows up in town, nerves quickly become frayed...

Years ago Jared Rizzoli, a former financial advisor, operated a Ponzi scheme that defrauded countless Fort Connor residents—including Barbara, one of the shop's knitters. Jared went to jail for his crime, but after being released for good behavior, he's back to ruin more lives.

When Jared is found dead in his car outside of Lambspun, Barbara becomes a prime suspect, much to the shock of the knitting community. To save one of their own, Kelly and her friends need to sort through a long list of fleeced suspects to pin the crime on the true killer.

(Maggie Sefton's 10th book in this series, CAST OFF, KILL OFF, is also out in paperback this month.)

Mass–Market Paperbacks:

THE DIVA FROSTS A CUPCAKE: A Domestic Diva Mystery #7
By Krista Davis (Berkley Prime Crime)

Sophie Winston and her BFF, Nina Reid Norwood, share a sweet spot for animals. So Sophie is delighted to help when Nina cooks up Cupcakes and Pupcakes—a fundraising event for animal shelters. All the local bakeries will be selling treats, with the profits going to pups and kitties in need. But Old Town is in for a whole batch of trouble when a cupcake war erupts between two bakeries.

Tongues wag and tempers rise when a partner leaves Sugar Baby Bakery and unveils her competing cupcakery, Sugar Mama, precisely as the fundraiser gets under way. Just as it seems nothing else can go wrong, Sugar Baby's sole remaining employee is found dead. Suspicion falls on the feuding owners, but the scrumptious new guy in town is also raising some eyebrows. Now Sophie and Nina have to sift through the clues and discover who isn't as sweet as they seem.

MONUMENT TO THE DEAD: A Museum Mystery #4
By Sheila Connolly (Berkley Prime Crime)

As president of the Pennsylvania Antiquarian Society in Philadelphia, Nell Pratt relies on the generosity of philanthropists. But when someone starts killing benefactors, it's Nell's turn to come to their aid.

When Nell reads the obituary of a former board member, Adeline Harrison, she makes a mental note to send flowers and doesn't think twice about it—until FBI agent James Morrison shares his suspicions about the nature of Adeline's death. It turns out that a number of other members of the local cultural community have died in the last few months, under similar circumstances.

Soon Nell uncovers what seems to be a plot to rid Philadelphia of harmless, elderly philanthropists—but why? If she can figure out the killer's motive, she has a chance of stopping the misanthropic murderer before another do–gooder is done in.

BLED & BREAKFAST: An Immortality Bites Mystery #2
By Michelle Rowen (Obsidian)

Fledgling vampire Sarah Dearly knew what she was getting into when she married master vampire Thierry de Bennicoeur. As an agent of the Ring, Thierry is sent all over the world to solve vampire crimes and keep them secret from humans. And now Sarah's on the job with him—for better or worse.

Right after their wedding in Las Vegas, Sarah and Thierry get their next assignment: Three vampires have gone missing in Salem, Massachusetts, and they need to find out why. Their contact in Salem turns out to be a local lothario with a penchant for witches, but before he can help them, he suddenly goes up in smoke—leaving behind nothing but a stain on the ground and a seemingly impossible mystery.

Did a witchy ex–mistress cast a deadly spell, or is there something even more sinister happening to the vampires of Salem? Getting to the truth may require raising the undead, with a little help from the owners of a vampire–friendly bed and breakfast. But uncovering Salem's darkest secrets may drag some of Thierry's own past into the light.

MURDER AFTER A FASHION: An Accessories Mystery #3
By Grace Carroll (Berkley Prime Crime)

These days, not even a new wardrobe can keep fashionista Rita Jewl from feeling blue. Perhaps the cure is a cooking class with a celebrity chef! But her appetite is ruined when murder becomes the main course.

As a salesgirl at Dolce's, a chic boutique outfitting San Francisco's wealthiest women, Rita has the world's greatest job. So why does she feel like last season's Christian Louboutin stilettos—worn and out of style? Maybe it's because her love life needs a makeover ASAP. From carrots to caviar, Guido Torcelli is the celebrity chef du jour. Perhaps signing up for his cooking class will serve as a much–needed distraction for Rita.

But when Guido's shot to death, Rita knows she'll soon top the list of suspects. Guido was killed at his culinary school the same night she scrawled her phone number on a menu and handed it to him. Now she's got to find the murderer before she's forced to take all her meals in the prison cafeteria.

THREAD AND BURIED: A Threadville Mystery #3
By Janet Bolin (Berkley)

In Threadville, Pennsylanvia, known for its textile art courses and shops, everyone's stories are connected by a common thread – even the ones ending in murder.

Every town has a legend. For Threadville, it's the story of Snoozy Gallagher, the hotel owner who disappeared thirty years ago with a bag full of stolen jewelry, never to be heard from again. That is, until now—when Snoozy's loot is discovered buried behind Willow Vanderling's embroidery shop In Stitches.

When villagers mysteriously become ill, and a body shrouded in materials from Threadville shops appears in the exact spot where the treasure was—along with two abandoned kittens—Willow needs answers. The random events are too coincidental to be unrelated, but Willow will have to act quickly to unravel the deadly mystery, or she might get tangled up as the killer's next victim.

STEAMED TO DEATH: A Gourmet De–Lite Mystery #2
By Peg Cochran (Berkley)

Aging soap star Felicity Davenport is looking to revamp her image, and she's using Gigi's Gourmet De–Lite to help her shed a few of those unwanted pounds. Having such a high–profile client is definitely good for business, but when Felicity is found murdered in her sauna, things start getting too hot for Gigi to handle.

The list of suspects is a mile long, and Gigi's best friend, Sienna, is at the top. Refusing to let her friend get blamed for a crime she didn't commit, Gigi is determined to hunt down the real killer. But, as the case reaches a boiling point, Gigi will have to be careful or she could be the next one getting burned.

LOOMING MURDER: A Weaving Mystery #1 (Debut series)
By Carol Ann Martin (Obsidian)

Della Wright has come to peaceful and picturesque Briar Hollow, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to realize her lifelong dream of owning a weaving studio. To promote her new business, Dream Weavers, Della is offering weaving workshops for all levels of ability. In her first class, she meets half a dozen of the town's colorful characters, who seem as eager to gossip as to learn how to work a loom.

But when a shady local businessman is found murdered, Briar Hollow suddenly appears a lot less idyllic. And when one of her weaving students is suspected of the crime, Della can't help getting entangled in the investigation—with some help from her criminologist friend, Matthew. But can she weave together clues as well as she weaves together yarn—and stop a killer from striking again?

TROUBLE VISION: A Raven's Nest Bookstore Mystery #3
By Allison Kingsley (Berkley)

In quaint Finn's Harbor, Maine, cousins and best friends Clara and Stephanie Quinn run The Raven's Nest bookstore. But thanks to Clara's ability to read minds and see the future, selling books sometimes gets shelved in favor of saving lives.

When the new mayor calls a press conference about the controversial hotel resort being built on the edge of the city, the residents of Finn's Harbor have an opportunity to express their concerns about traffic and tourists. But when the debating turns into outright fighting, Clara gets a premonition that's nothing but trouble.

While Stephanie is enthralled with her cousin's vision, Clara just wants it to go away. Then a customer comes into The Raven's Nest talking about a fatal fall at the hotel's construction site, and Clara knows better than to ignore her Quinn Sense. In a town full of citizens who want the project to fail, Clara and Stephanie have to figure out who made the jump from anger to murder.

BRUSH WITH DEATH: A Grey Whale Inn Mystery #5
By Karen MacInerney (Midnight Ink)

For Natalie Barnes, the flurry of trendy artists setting up shop on Cranberry Island promises to be the perfect recipe for relaxing and enjoying the holiday season. But Natalie's good luck is turning out to be a stroke of misfortune for her niece, Gwen. The local gallery's new owner hates Gwen's paintings, and her mentor Fernand is too distracted by a competing artist to help Gwen improve her style.

When Natalie finds Fernand dead, seemingly the victim of suicide, she can't believe someone who had so much joy and success in his life would kill himself. Finding clues at Fernand's home that support her suspicion of murder, Natalie's hunt for answers places her next on the killer's list. Will she be able to solve this murder masterpiece before it's too late?

HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE A Dead Sister Talking Mystery #1 (Debut series)
By Lizbeth Lipperman (Midnight Ink)

Sisters Tessa and Lainey Garcia weren't on speaking terms. But now that Tessa's dead, her wisecracking ghost is making up for lost time.

Lainey Garcia left Texas nine years ago after her sister Tessa married the only man Lainey ever loved. So when Tessa's house explodes, the last thing anyone expects is for her to appear to Lainey . . . as a ghost.

Formerly a part owner of the biggest vineyard in the region, Tessa's got the goods on every fake, floozy, and two–faced liar in town. But Tessa doesn't know who killed her, and she asks the remaining Garcia girls to uncover the truth. Setting out to fulfill their sassy sibling's wish from beyond the grave, the sisters discover a mile–wide list of suspects who wanted Tessa dead. Learning the hard way that killers don't like snoops, Lainey fears she'll be the next Garcia sent to the big vineyard in the sky.

FATAL DESCENT: A RM Outdoor Adventures Mystery #3
By Beth Groundwater (Midnight Ink)

Between a rock and a hard paddle.

Mandy Tanner and her fiancé Rob are leading an offseason rafting-climbing trip in Utah’s remote Canyonlands. Experienced guides, Mandy and Rob know they have to keep their cool after one of their group, Alex Anderson, appears to have become bear bait. Walled off from the outside world with eleven shell-shocked clients and miles of Colorado River whitewater ahead, Mandy’s nerves threaten to unravel when she learns that Alex’s death was not the work of a homicidal grizzly. Whether it was a crime of passion or the random act of a psychopath, Mandy fears that if they don’t root out the river rat among them, another camper will be running the rapids in a body bag.

Hope that you find something that tickles your reading fancy here. Have a great beginning of the summer, and be sure to come back next month to see what sizzling cozy mysteries I’ve found for July!

Happy cozy reading, ya’ll!