Mysterious Covers of 2011

Here are my favorite mystery covers of books I read in 2011



What were some of your favorites???

Upcoming Mysteries I Can't Wait to Read

Here are some of the new mysteries I can't wait to dive into!

Killer Crullers: Suzanne's donuts are excellent. One man adores his Crullers. When he doesn't pick up his order, someone else buys them. The sale to the stranger proves a disaster to the town and Suzanne. Out January 3rd GoodReads

Drop Dead Chocolate: No details are out yet for this one. Out April 24th GoodReads

I ADORE this series, which always always makes me crave donuts! Here's my review of the first book.
Affairs of Steak: The 6th book in this amazingly fun series! Chef Olivia must pair up with her rival to solve a double murder in the White House. Here's my review for book 5 - Buffalo West Wing Out January 3rd GoodReads

Crops and Robbers: The Farmer's Market where Becca works and her sister runs, is expecting a visit from a restaurant association. Becca's excited at the prospect of having her jam in restaurants, until it's rejected. The 3rd book in this series which will be out December 6th GoodReads

Walled Flower: Katie's been mad at her late husband who sunk all their savings into Artisans Alley instead of her dream of owning a B&B. Now a young couple bought her dream. To their dismay, they find a skeleton in their new place. The 2nd in this series and this will be out February 7th GoodReads

Cookie Before Dying: Olivia and her dog stumble across the body of a man who might have been robbing another local store. The second in this series: out December 6th GoodReads

Due or Die: A murder is committed in the librarian's sleepy town in Briar Creek, Connecticut. The second in this series: out March 6th GoodReads

It Takes a Witch: Darcy discovers her witch heritage and then becomes involved in a murder investigation. The first in a new series out January 3rd. GoodReads

Clobbered by Camembert: The third in this series. Charlotte runs into an old family friend just starting a honeybee farm. Things don't go has planned and when she turns up dead, Rebecca's boyfriend is the number one suspect. Charlotte knows her assistant's boyfriend couldn't be responsible and set out to prove just that. Out January 3rd: GoodReads

Town in a Wild Moose Chase: I still need to read the 2nd in the series, because I really enjoyed the first book. The third in this series - with Candy trying to figure out the story behind the dead body found in the woods amid the swirling rumors during the town's Wild Moose festival. Out February 7th GoodReads
Scrapbook of Secrets: A debut novel.A one time reporter turned stay at home mom, Annie uses her investigating skill to dig into the death labeled a suicide, but seems suspicious. Love the scrapbooking angle. First in a new series out February 7th GoodReads

Cake on a Hot Tin Roof: Rita's taking over the cake shop in hot humid New Orleans. Looking forward to this second book in the series but I can't find any description of the book - out February 7th GoodReads
Buried in a Book: When Lila's fired from her journalist job, she accepts an internship at a literary agency. Love the premise of the debut novel out in February 7th GoodReads

The Last Word: A best selling novelist comes to town to work on his newest book. Olivia finds him strangled. The third in this series - out December 6th GoodReads


Die Job: The third in this series which involves an attempted murder at a haunted plantation. Out January 3rd GoodReads

Cocoa Conspiracy: Lady Arianna's an expert in chocolate. She must use her knowledge to track down a traitor. The second in this series. I LOVE this old fashioned cover! Out December 6th GoodReads
Explosive 18: I ADORE this series- so looking forward to the next book coming so soon!!! Comes out November 22nd GoodReads

Mysterious Saturday Review: Deeply Desperately

Lucy Valentine works in the family business of matchmaking. Although she doesn't have the family touch of reading auras. Instead she can find lost/missing people. At the moment, the police need her help with a case.

They're looking for a mother of two who has gone mysteriously missing. No body has surfaced. The police and public opinion believe her husband is the culprit. Lucy works to unravel the mystery through a bracelet.

In her matchmaking business, she's working in uncover a long lost love. A man's searching for a woman he met before deployment.

A reporter's shadowing Lucy through her transactions. While she's asking questions about the process of finding things, she's also asking some very personal questions. Lucy has a feeling she might be trying to uncover something about her family, but she's not sure what that might be.

With all her different cases, she still have time for her budding relationship with Sean. However, just as things start to heat up, something inevitably happens. Lucy blames this on the Valentine curse - where her family can never be happy in love. Neither of them want to give up, but when Sean's ex-girlfriend comes into the picture, trouble rears it's ugly head.

My Thoughts: I adore this new series. This is the 2nd book of Lucy Valentine and her adventures. I find her refreshing. She speaks the truth. She's loyal, hard-working, sassy, and fun. I loved her times with Preston. I'm eager for the next installment.

Cover Thoughts: It's cute but the story takes place right before the holidays and there's nothing to indicate this time of year. It looks more like a summer read than a winter cozy.

Source: ILL

Next Up: Coming in February

Mysterious Saturday: Mysteries I can't WAIT for devour

I haven't read any mysteries lately, so here's a look at all the ones I'm waiting to read.

The third book in the donut shop series, that makes me CRAVE donuts

A crafting mystery series - this is the first one

Domestic Diva mystery series - the 4th one coming out next month

The 2nd book in the Lucy Valentine series - about a girl who runs a match-making business with family secret.

The 4th book in the White House chef series coming in January

The 2nd book in the series - where Lily owns a vintage clothing store. A series by the same author starts next month featuring home repairs and ghosts.

The first in a new series by the author of the Orchard mysteries, which also has a new book coming out in December

The 10th book in this mystery series featuring a flower shop owner

The third in the Bibliophile series - dealing with old books which I find fascinating

Cupcakes and murder - the second book in the series coming out in January


What am I missing?

Mysteries I'm waiting to read

I haven't read any mysteries this week, but here's a list of one I'm really anxious to read:

Out Now:

I really love this series (#8) and there's a new twist to this one.
Add to Goodreads

Number 3 in this series - close to where I live and very entertaining
Add to Goodreads

The 3rd book in stamping mystery - I love playing around with stamps and making cards
Add to Goodreads

While I hate coffee and anything coffee flavored, I love reading about this coffee shop - the 9th in the coffee shop series.
Add to Goodreads
I met the author once at a conference - in Boston I believe. Then I started the first in the series and now I'm hooked.

Upcoming:

Love this author for her Stephanie Plum series
Add to Goodreads

Georgie is a member of the Royal family - distantly and without any income.
Add to Goodreads

Ice cream mystery = awesome
Add to Goodreads

Pizza mystery = yummy!
Add to Goodreads

Christmas murder - I love Christmas books
Add to Goodreads

Art forging and a little bit of history - I love Art History.
Add to Goodreads

Mysterious Saturday Review: Don of the Dead

Pepper took the only job she could find after her father went to jail and her fiancee dumped her - a tour guide for a cemetery.

After falling and hitting her head on a grave stone, she began seeing one man who looked like he belonged in the past.

Gus Scarpetti, a wise guy from 30 years ago won't leave her alone. He wants her to solve his unsolved murder so he can move on. At first, Pepper thinks she's hallucinating. Then she decides to ignore him. Finally, after he wrecks havoc in her life, she agrees to strike a deal with him.

She'll work on his cold case for a fee. Pepper isn't sure where to turn as she knows next to nothing about the case. She has dinner at the restaurant where he was gunned down outside. She talks to the old cook who's retiring. She visits the museum to discover more information. Finally, she goes to the sources, the survivors of that night and Gus's family. Pepper's sticking her nose into a "family" that do not take kindly to meddlesome people.

Will she be able to help Gus before someone decides she's learning too much about the family?

My Thoughts: First in a series that's clever, witty, and amusing. Pepper leaps off the page with her large personality. Gus remains old fashioned in his deadly ways - clever, cunning, and smart. I look forward to reading more in the series.

Cover: Dark and spooky - fits the book perfectly.

Source: Inter-library loan

Mysterious Saturday Review: Long Quiche Goodbye

Charlotte and her cousin Matthew have taken over the family cheese shop in Providence, Ohio. They've modernized the shop, adding a wine store and selling other food products that will compliment the cheeses. The night of the re-opening, someone murders their landlord.

Ed wasn't a well liked man. He flirted with women. He was in the process of raising rents, evicting tenants, and selling off some buildings.

Charlotte's grandmother was found over the body covered with blood. Add in the argument she and Ed had shortly before his demise makes her the prime suspect. The murder weapon came from her store, sometime during the party. Charlotte knows her gentle, but free spirited grandmother could never have committed the murder.

She sets out to free her grandmother amid town gossip, a nasty mayor election, a potential romance, and a flair for cheese. Can she find out the truth?

My Thoughts: The murder threw Charlotte off base, forcing her to leap to conclusions, snoop in private places, and commits more than one scene in public. She's one to root for as she's sweet, funny, and has a good heart.

Confession: Whenever I read books about food: cupcakes, donuts, or in this case cheese I suddenly crave that food. The cheese sounds scrumptious. I'd love to visit a quaint shop of Charlotte and Mathew.

The Cover: Adorable! Simply magical

Source: Purchased

Mysterious Saturday Review: Sprinkled with Murder

Mel and Angie, BFFs, recently opened up Fairy Tale Cupcakes. They're so happy about their dream come true until their first big order comes from their other best friend Tate. He's getting married to a girl they both despise. When the bride asks for 500 cupcakes - original recipes only that she owns from then on out, Mel wants to kill her. Instead, she whips up some cupcakes, sends them with her designers, and agrees to meet early the next morning to discuss them. She walks into her store only to discover a dead body. Now she's the prime suspect in a murder investigation and the press spins a love triangle gone wrong tale. Sacred that the police investigation is focused on her and her alone, Mel takes up her own investigating. Will she more luck tracking down a killer on the loose?

My Thoughts: A delightful scrumptious new series filled with luscious treats (recipes included), a dash of romance, and loyal friends make this read a real treat.

The Cover: Cute and Eye catching

Source: Purchased

Mysterious Saturday Review: If Books Could Kill

Brooklyn heads first class trip to Edinburgh for their well known book fair. On her first there, she takes a walk to clear her head and the inevitable jet lag. She runs into her ex-boyfriend Kyle. He convinces her to have lunch at a pub with him. Then he confides in her about this mysterious book about the royal family, which could spill dangerous secrets about a royal princess. He asks her to authenticate the book and persuades her to keep it safe for him. Brooklyn knows the workings of the bookmaker, but she agrees to run some tests. He receives a mysterious phone call and leaves the pub. Later that night, Brooklyn stumbles across his body. It's clear he's been murdered, but why would someone want to kill him? Could someone know about the book and who did he tell before her? Brooklyn needs to uncover the mystery before her life ends up in danger or worse in jail for a crime she didn't commit.


My Thoughts: I love this series. I adore the bookish aspect and the way books are treasures. This book made me want to go to Scotland in the worst way, just to walk the streets.

The Cover: cute and bookish, which always draws my eye.

The Source: My Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Truly Madly

Lucy's father has a talent that's shared by blood relatives - except for Lucy since she had an accident. Instead of seeing love matches through auras, she can find lost objects. When her father's caught having an affair, things heat up for the family business. Mr. and Mrs. Valentine head off for a tropical vacation, leaving Lucy in charge of the business. Lucy's never wanted to run the business, especially since she doesn't have the same gifts. In meeting with a client, she discovers a missing item of his is on a dead women buried in the park. With the help of the young private investigator who works upstairs, she uncovers the body and uncovers a whole web of lies to untangle. Can she find the murderer before the police go after her or her client?

My Thoughts: An excellent start to a new series filled with paranormal elements, romance, and mystery. I loved Lucy - she's quirky, fun, and wildly entertaining. I can't wait to read more about her.

The Cover: I like the open door, it's extremely inviting and the heart vines are adorable.

Source: contest on Goodreads (I'm Jennifer Rummel there, so come friend me!)

Author's Website: where you can read the first chapter
Book 2 - coming in August

*also if you're a mystery fan, check out the post below for a chance to win a great Teen mystery*