Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates

Title: Brownies and Broomsticks
Author: Bailey Cates

Publisher: Obsidian
ISBN: 978-0-451-23663-0
Pages: 319
Series: Magical Bakery Mysteries #1
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Katie Lightfoot has just left a less than satisfying life in Ohio and moved down to Savannah to open the Honeybee Bakery with her aunt Lucy and uncle Ben. As she and Lucy begin working on recipes for the bakery, Katie notices her aunt's habit of adding herbs to the mixtures and muttering and soon discovers these additions aren't just tasty...they're magical! But when a rude customer is found murdered out front and Ben becomes the prime suspect, Katie will draw on her magical heritage and, with the help of a handsome journalist and charming firefighter, try to solve the case herself!

This is the first book in the new Magical Bakery Mysteries and one that I shamelessly picked up based on the gorgeous cover. I ended up really enjoying the story and it has been a long time since I've read a cozy mystery with this many twists and turns. I couldn't figure out the murderer's identity but when it was revealed it all made perfect sense which is the best kind of cozy, at least in my opinion.

The book is set in Savannah and there are a few descriptions of the town through the eyes of it's newest resident Katie. The pacing is great, balancing revelations and world building with dramatic twists. The writing is gorgeous and this is packed with mouthwatering descriptions of food and various bakery treats. This is a world I'd be happy to live in! I loved how realistic the witchcraft was, as well as the delicate way it was introduced to the storyline. There's also a variety of practices described so it'll be interesting to see how these play out later in the series.

I really liked Katie. At first I thought she seemed a little stereotypical - starting a new business, just out of a messy long-term relationship, but she soon blossoms on the page. The only thing that bothered me about her was how little she slept, although I have the feeling this may be important in future installments.

Katie works hard to build her business and to clear her Uncle's name, while somehow balancing two potential love interests in Steve and Declan. Steve really irritated me by constantly calling her "Katie-girl" and honestly they seem to have very little in common. It's almost as though he has been put there as the 'doesn't care you're a witch' option, although Declan is incredible. The romance doesn't detract from the storyline though - it just enhances it.

At the end recipes for Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies and Cheddar-Sage Scones (both featured in the book) are included. These sound really yummy and I can't wait to try them out!

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 47/50

Death in a Difficult Position by Diana Killian

Title: Death in a Difficult Position

Author: Diana Killian
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN: 978-0-425-24381-7
Pages: 285
Series: Mantra for Murder Mystery #4
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When the charasmatic Reverend David Goode moves to Stillbrook he singles out Sacred Balance and Yoga Meridian as the root of evil. According to him, yoga is a heathen demonic practice. AJ isn't the only person whose livelihood is at risk - her ex-partner Lily is the new manager of Yoga Meridian. But when the Reverend ends up dead and Lily is arrested, AJ feels she has to prove Lily's innocence. But with the Reverend's distinctly unreligious habits and the appearance of the Jersey Devil, this case may be AJ's strangest yet.

This is the fourth book in the Mantra for Murder Mysteries (after Corpse Pose, Dial Om for Murder and Murder on the Eightfold Path) and I really enjoyed it. I struggled through the last installment as there was so much going on at once, but now AJ's life is more settled the book was a great read. The densly plotted storyline was packed with twists and turns and kept me glued to the page. The ending is well thought out and gives a surprisingly upbeat conclusion to the story.

The idea of covering the debate between religion and yoga was a fascinating idea, partly because I've seen arguments against yoga from various religious figureheads in the real world. AJ comes up against a Reverend who is convinced that yoga is the work of the devil and they have several interesting conversations where AJ tries to explain her perspective and he railroads her. The author manages to show that it is closemindedness that is the problem, rather than blaming religion itself.

I was a little concerned that I wouldn't really care about Lily being accused of murder as I didn't really like her in the previous books, but my attention was drawn into the case by AJ's mother Elysia. Now the star of her own mystery TV show Golden Gumshoes, Elysia turns up with her fellow castmembers and plunges straight into the case. Also the threat of Lily coming back to Sacred Balance had me rooting for AJ proving her innocence.

There were also some great supporting storylines, including AJ and Jake's increasingly serious romance and also Elysia's new relationship with her costar Dean. The latter is great because it brings the attraction between Elysia and town lawyer Mr Meagher to a head. Yoga also gets more page time with AJ's own practice and it's impact on grumpy teenager Mocha. However my favourite part of the book has to be the appearance of the Jersey Devil. I've loved folklore on this for years so to see it take a leading role in a book was brilliant.

At the end of the book there is the usual yoga and recipe section. This time it features a guide to three yoga poses (sideways bend, forward bend and cobra pose) alongside recipes for Baked Manicotti and Chocolate Clementine Cake which were both mouthwateringly described in the book.

All in all this was a great read from a fun series.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Murder on the Eightfold Path by Diana Killian

Title: Murder on the Eightfold Path

Author: Diana Killian
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN: 978-0-425-23391-7
Pages: 300
Series: Mantra for Murder Mystery #3
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


AJ Alexander inherited her aunt's yoga studio, moved to small town New Jersey and started a relatively quiet life...with the exception of reluctantly solving a few murders. But when AJ literally trips over the body of her mother's current beau Dicky right outside Elysia's house, AJ finds herself drawn into her most important case yet. This time AJ is fighting to prove her mother's innocence but with business and relationship problems as well as a back injury, AJ could be biting off more than she can chew.

This is the third book in the Mantra for Murder Mysteries (after Corpse Pose and Dial Om for Murder) and deals with the death of Dicky who was briefly introduced in the last book. The plot is cleverly written and packed with false leads but for some reason I found it really hard to keep my interest on the book and so I kept picking it up and putting it down. I think my attention kept getting distracted as there is so much storyline aside from the murder.

AJ spends a lot of time away from Sacred Balance and can't do yoga because of a back injury, so it's a little ironic that this book contains quite a lot about both yoga and the studio. Since the beginning of the series Sacred Balance has played a key role and in this installment the friction between AJ and her co-manager Lily finally comes to a head with some dramatic scenes. AJ's relationship with Jake Oberlin is also on rocky ground with a new character stirring up trouble and AJ doubting whether the relationship has a future.

Elysia's life and her old friends also get a lot of page time as this time the case is all about Elysia. It's been great watching her and AJ grow closer over the previous books, and this continues that helping AJ see that her mother is no longer the drunk from her childhood. There is also some resolution to the bitter relationship between Elysia and AJ's neighbour Stella. This also means that a lot of the supporting cast are older which adds a different dimension to the book.

At the end there is a guide to two back-strengthening yoga exercises (Happy Baby Pose and Cat Stretch) and two recipes for Barley Soup with Porcini Mushrooms and Chicken Walnut Salad.

All in all this was a fair read and I'm looking forward to Death in a Difficult Position.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 41/50

Dial Om for Murder by Diana Killian

Title: Dial Om for Murder
Author: Diana Killian
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN: 978-0-425-22705-3
Pages: 271
Series: Mantra for Murder Mystery #2
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


A.J. only two A-list students in her yoga studio, but they are more than enough to handle. Leading actress Nicole Manning and reality-show star Barbie Siragusa aren't just divas, they are viscious rivals too. A.J. tries to keep the peace but when she discovers Nicole's dead body, all fingers point to Barbie. Pushed into investigating by her mother, A.J. soon learns that Nicole's life was more complicated than she ever dreamed.

This is the second book in the Mantra for Murder Mysteries (after Corpse Pose). After really enjoying the first book I was eager to get stuck into this and I must say I wasn't disappointed. As with the first installment the mystery element is tightly plotted and cleverly written with just the right amount of red herrings. There were also a few twists and turns that caught me completely by surprise.

While the yoga angle ensures that this is unique amongst other cozies, it doesn't overpower the mystery. A.J. is still running the Sacred Balance studio and her love of yoga shines through. The book even concludes with a guide to sun salutations and a recipe for salmon salad. The other unique aspect of this is the secondary mystery which is a minor plot that links in to the main case. In this installment AJ's ex-husband turns up bruised and unwell on her doorstep after leaving his partner but won't explain what's wrong.

The romance subplot between AJ and Detective Jake Oberlin. Unlike in other cozy mysteries though, Jake absolutely objects to A.J. having any part in the police investigation and her determination to investigate puts their relationship in jeopardy. Most cozies seem to have a clueless cop grateful for the amateur's assistance, but this seems far more realistic.

I found the ending was a little disappointing because it came together very quickly and without much explanation. As with the first book the ending was quite tense and action-packed but while I didn't predict the killer's identity, there wasn't much reasoning behind it. It seemed very much a case of "voila, here's your murderer".

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Murder on the Eightfold Path.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 46/50

Corpse Pose by Diana Killian

Title: Corpse Pose

Author: Diana Killian
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
ISBN: 978-0-425-22090-0
Pages: 276
Series: Mantra for Murder Mystery #1
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Since A.J. Alexander's husband left her for another man she's been feeling lost, but when her favourite Aunt Di is found brutally murdered A.J. seizes the opportunity to escape her Manhattan lifestyle for rural New Jersey. Diantha was a successful yoga guru with a lucrative yoga studio, but her strong opinions and determination to see her wishes carried out caused a lot of tension within the town of Stillbrook. A.J. soon finds herself under suspicion from a hunky local detective, so she decides to limber up and track down the killer herself.

As a fan of both cozy mysteries and yoga I have no idea why this sat on my TBR heap for over a year before I finally got to it. I absolutely loved this book, and am now kicking myself for not reading it before. A.J. is a great lead character who is believable and realistic, and who is a yoga novice (like me). She hasn't seen her aunt for a few years before the murder due to some tension with A.J.'s now ex husband, which means the reader gets to familiarise themselves with the setting of the book along with A.J. herself.

I also found A.J.'s British ex-actress mother Elysia to be well written and hilarious. The British slang and terms of endearment (e.g. 'Pet') also seeemed normal, unlike many books by US writers who get this horribly wrong. The hunky Detective Jake Oberlin is great as the police character who always shows up in cozies - thankfully he is well written (no cookie cutter characters here) and the only possible romantic interest in the book. A.J.'s ex husband Andy does appear in the book, but this doesn't come anywhere near the often tedious love triangles that are becoming more commonplace in cozies.

The mystery is well developed with gradual clues that I didn't put together until the very last minute. There are also several plot twists that I didn't see coming, and also lots of mini stories going on at the same time - like what is happening between Detective Oberlin and A.J.'s dog when her back is turned? The only thing that affected my enjoyment of the book was a couple of mistakes that had slipped past the editors (a neighbour lives both a mile and five miles away, and a chai latte suddenly becomes a cup of tea), but these were minor and rare (I only noticed the two).

All in all a fabulous cozy read that I thoroughly recommend to fans of cozy mysteries, yoga or both! I'm looking forward to reading Dial Om for Murder.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier

Title: Mistletoe Murder
Author: Leslie Meier
Publisher: Kensington
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2889-5
Pages: 209
Series: Lucy Stone Mysteries #1
Type: Adult Cozy Mystery
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Lucy Stone is struggling to get ready for Christmas. Along with working at Country Cousins and raising three children, she's baking holiday cookies, knitting a sweater, making her daughter's Christmas costume and preparing for visiting relatives. Then Lucy stumbles across Country Cousins founder Sam Miller dead in his car from an apparent suicide. Lucy can't believe a man so successful would take his own life so she decides to uncover his murderer alongside her Christmas preparations.

I'd first heard of Leslie Meier from an anthology called Candy Cane Murder that she did with Joanne Fluke (a favourite cozy mystery author of mine) so I decided to try one of her novels. This was originally published in the early 1990s as 'Mail-Order Murder' and at one point in the book the suspects are referred to as the mail order murderers. There are still little mail-order snippets at the start of each chapter which at first I thought was just a cute twist, until I realised that each item related in some way to the content of the chapter and was impressed by how clever they are.

I really liked Lucy as the lead character. I can remember my mother doing hundreds of things in the run up to Christmas, as well as working, so I found her manic schedule normal. Unlike a lot of cozy mystery sleuths, Lucy doesn't abandon her own life in favour of chasing suspects but tries to fit her investigations into her already busy life. It gives the mystery a more realistic feel and the storyline is well thought-out, and full of twists and turns. There are also a few red herrings thrown in that keep you guessing, although it does come together very quickly at the end.

The other characters in the book are great - from Lucy's friends at her job to her family to the people she meets during the book. I found them all to be unique and not cliched. I particularly liked Officer Barney Culpepper who Lucy teams up with to track down the suspects. Lots of characters were introduced, so I'm hoping they get more page time in the future books.

One thing I did find a little annoying is that the sample chapters included at the end of the book are from Valentine Murder and St. Patrick's Day Murder, books 6 and 14 in the series which seems fairly odd. The latter was the most recent at the time of publication, but the former really should have been from the second book.

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to reading Tippy-Toe Murder.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 45/50