by Cynthia Chow, Tracy Condie & Sarah Erwin

This week we have reviews and giveaways of several more fun mysteries for your summer reading tbr-A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson, A Limited Edition Murder: A Beyond the Page Mystery by Lauren Elliott, and Lights Camera Bones: A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery by Carolyn Haines. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of all 3 books and links to purchase them from Amazon at the end of each review.

A Pose Before Dying by Alex Erickson
Review by Sarah Erwin

Alex Erickson, author of the popular Bookshop Cafe Mysteries kicks off a new cozy mystery series with A Pose Before Dying. In book one of the Cat Yoga Mysteries, readers meet Ashley (Ash) Branson who has just opened her new yoga studio, A Purrfect Pose. This partnership with the local animal shelter that allows students to interact with adoptable cats while learning yoga is a dream come true for Ash. She’s determined to make it on her own despite several folks in the story (including Ash’s own overbearing mother and the annoying dog groomer next door) who do not want Ash to succeed.

Unfortunately for Ash, within her first week of opening, her studio alarm is triggered. Upon investigation, Ash discovers one of her new clients, a much-disliked college professor, dead in her studio, locked in child’s pose. Police Chief Higgins not only shuts down Ash’s store until the case is solved, but also zeros in on Ash’s brother, Hunter.

Ash can’t let either of those two things happen so she begins her first job as an amateur sleuth. The more Ash investigates the more possible suspects appear, and she even begins to question her brother’s role in all of this. While not an experienced sleuth, Ash is a bit all over the place in her investigation, but she is relentless in her pursuit of the truth and the final scene is a nail-biter!

The murder mystery is solved, but there are also a few bits of the story that feel like hints for future entries in the series and that has me eager for book two. I would especially like to revisit the small town and see more of Ash and her friends and sister. Ash is an endearing character. and I couldn’t help but admire her tenacity in both her business and investigation. Alex offers a creative premise to a new cozy mystery series that readers are sure to enjoy.

You can click here to purchase the book from Amazon.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

A Limited Edition Murder: A Beyond the Page Mystery by Lauren Elliott
Review by Cynthia Chow

After a shocking revelation about her family and a devastating breakup with her fiancée, bookstore owner Addie Greyborne accepts her friend Tony Radcliff’s offer to visit him in England and take on a new temporary job in the small West Yorkshire village of Moorscrag, England. Working at the Second Chance Books and Bindery has allowed Addie to meet a new welcoming assortment of friends, as well as be able to attend the engagement party of Tony and his fiancée Hailey Granger. Addie’s planned year in England is about to end though, and despite her numerous postponements she is preparing to return home to New England and deal with the emotional fallout.

The celebrated visit of Tony’s publisher, Lord Bentley, is quickly overshadowed by his declaration that Tony’s gift to his fiancée was stolen. Lord Bentley asserts that the extraordinarily valuable limited edition of Wuthering Heights was taken out of his manor 20 years ago, with a missing maid accused of the crime. Not long after this shocking news is Addie’s discovery of a mysterious woman she met at the engagement party, causing Addie to once again put on her investigator’s cap to solve a few murders. Addie doesn’t have the same cooperative relationship with Detective Inspector Noah Parker as she did with Detective Marc Chander back home in Greyborne Harbor, and despite the DI’s Henry Cavill good looks Addie’s not about to allow him to prevent her from helping her friends.

This 10th in the series could easily serve as a standalone as a result of the change of location and introduction of new characters. Loyal readers will still be rewarded though, as they will enjoy following Addie’s reclamation of her confidence and discovery of a possible new path for her life. She will have to make extremely hard choices over what she wants in her life, something made even more difficult when her two best friends visit her in England. It hasn’t gone unnoticed that Addie has been putting off her return, indicating that her subconscious may be trying to make the choice for her.

As much as readers may have enjoyed her adventures back in her New England Beyond the Page bookstore, they will be rooting for her to continue to pursue the healthier relationships she has been forging in the charming town of West Yorkshire. At least everyone can be reassured that she will continue to have the companionship of her Yorkipoo Pippi, not to mention her love of books and bookselling. Whether this is the end of an entertaining bibliophile mystery series or the start of a brand new one, readers will look forward to the next appearance of this determined lead character.

You can click here to purchase the book from Amazon.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Lights Camera Bones: A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery by Carolyn Haines
Review by Tracy Condie

Sarah Booth Delaney has gone Hollywood. Well not really, but it looks like Sara Booth and her BFF Tinkie are going back to work without so much as a long weekend off after two straight years of work. If you are not familiar with the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series, you will need to channel your inner Steel Magnolia because Sarah Booth is not your typical Southern belle. Just a heads up that this is not a fluffy cozy. There is Southern sass and a little language now and again. These ladies mean business after all. This is book 27 of 28 (yes, the next one is already in the works), and I have enjoyed each one that I have read over the last decade. Not having started at the beginning, doesn’t hinder my enjoyment of the story or its characters of which there are some definite “characters,” including a ghost/haint of nannies-past named Jitty. She is forever antagonizing Sarah Booth to have babies and drives her crazy by making enigmatic statements meant to aid in investigations and then disappearing. Jitty says there are rules about being straightforward.

Jitty isn’t the only one disappearing. A gaffer named Jules is missing, then Marlon Brandon, the big star/screenwriter and grandson of former Senator Brandon Brandon (yes that is his name) goes missing. Local loudmouth Lamar Bilbo and bookstore owner Mary Dayle McCormick show up on set and do their best to shut down the production. Lamar and Mary Dayle claim the movie is going to show unpleasantness and blatant racism instead of portraying the heroic rescue of stranded folks by a Brandon ancestor and his boat. Tensions are high and they get even higher when a severed foot is fished out of the water. Now it is really getting interesting, isn’t it?

This plot had me hooked because of inter-linking clues such as family history that some felt should remain in the past. There are well-placed red herrings, and tips and hints from the many personas of Jitty who seems to be exceedingly vexing to Sarah Booth. It is very easy to be caught up in the story with Sarah Booth and her friends since emotions are running high. I turned page after page eager to learn the truth but unable to figure out the puzzle, which is just how I like my mysteries. I also like learning something new such as the fact that the background of this story is based on actual history. There was a horrific flood in 1927, and the loss of property, livestock, and lives devastated Greenville, Mississippi. This is an excellent read, and I am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Haines has in store for us in book 28.

You can click here to purchase this book.

To enter to win a copy of all 3 books, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “summer mystery tbr” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen July 20, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.

Tracy Condie is a paralegal by day and cozy armchair sleuth by night. When she is not working or reading, she enjoys preparing the recipes found in culinary cozies or researching recipes of meal items described therein and sharing reviews of both books and food on Instagram and on KRL. She lives in Corona, California with her husband and dog Zoolie, and looks forward to visiting with their grown sons when their time permits.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.