by Sarah Erwin & Tracy Condie

This week we have reviews of 3 more historical and cozy mysteries-Murder in Miniature: Maple Bishop Book Two by Katie Tietjen, Death at an Irish Village: An Irish Castle Mystery by Ellie Brannigan, and Murder Most Fowl: Food Truck Mystery by Carmela Dutra. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win copies of all 3 books and links to purchase them from Amazon at the end of each review.

Murder in Miniature: Maple Bishop Book Two by Katie Tietjen
Review by Sarah Erwin

I wanted to read Murder in Miniature, book two in the Maple Bishop Mystery Series by Katie Tietjen, from the moment I saw its beautiful cover, and the story inside is just as wonderful as the cover. While this is the second in the series, this title can easily be read as a standalone.

In this historical mystery, set after WWII, Maple Bishop is a widow living in a small Vermont town. She has a successful dollhouse business, as well as a new career as a crime scene consultant for the local sheriff’s office.

Upon the discovery of the body of a local, aspiring firefighter in his burned cabin, the sheriff calls Maple to the scene. Police officer Kenny is with the sheriff and together the three of them must decide if the fire was an accident or murder. As part of the investigation, Maple creates a series of cabins in miniature. But it’s not just miniatures that solve the case – Maple and Kenny travel to Boston to investigate and encounter secrets and danger that follows them home.

The engaging writing pulled me into this story, and I read this book in one afternoon/evening sitting, stopping only to toss frozen pizza in the oven for my family. Maple is such a well-developed character – reflective and honest, doing the best she can as she grapples with missing her husband and living life in the present. Her relationship with Kenny, the sheriff and so many others in the town give the story a found family vibe which I adore. There’s even a hint of romance for Maple.

The mystery was multilayered with many parts coming into play, and while I thought I had the ending determined, I did not, and the big reveal had me sitting straight up with a gasp. Readers not only see Maple solve the mystery of the fire, but also get a glimpse into Maple’s past when she and Kenny travel to Boston.

The author’s note is a must read as the character of Maple is inspired by the true story of Frances Glessner Lee, whose miniature replicas of crime scenes are still used to train forensic investigators. I knew nothing of Frances and found myself down a Google rabbit hole, wanting to learn more.

A wonderful historical mystery series, and I do hope there are more to come.

You can click here to purchase this 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.

Death at an Irish Village: An Irish Castle Mystery by Ellie Brannigan
Review by Tracy Condie

This is the third book in the Irish Castle Mystery series. Irish revolutionary history overlaps with family history at a forgotten grave site in an overgrown cemetery. Perfect place for a body drop, right?
As a reader, you don’t have to know the history of the characters because there is plenty of backstory. Rayne McGrath, couture wedding dress maker to the likes of the rich and Rodeo Drive famous, and her salt of the earth Irish cousin Ciara Smith have one year to bring the finances of McGrath Castle and the surrounding lands into the black or sell.

Wills can be tricky things. Nevin McGrath’s written will was meant to unite his illegitimate daughter, Ciara, and her brash American cousin, Rayne, into a partnership designed to save them all following his demise. (See the series starter, Murder at an Irish Castle.) A Hermes bag, one of Rayne’s treasures, may need to be sacrificed to save the estate unless the wedding venue venture succeeds and next year’s lambing increases.

The cousins struggle to bring the village into this century while not losing the cozy historic village look. I was intrigued by the way Rayne and Ciara brainstormed a list of potential jobs to be filled by a slightly younger group of people. You can only feel empathy for the cousins as they seem to take two steps forward and one and a half steps back. At least they are in lockstep. Well. except when it comes to romance. The cousins’ romantic lives are see-sawing. While one cousin seems to be going up with butterflies in her stomach, the other cousin is going down with a feeling of dread. Oh, and then there is Landon, the crazy ex business partner/boyfriend.

The last thing needed is a dead body in the newly cleared cemetery. It wasn’t there before the clearing. With a wedding scheduled, Rayne needs to do what she can to help Garda Williams get to the bottom of this unfortunate and reputation-ruining mystery.

This story has sprinkles of Irish history, cozy town characters (many of whom are over sixty and fit as proverbial fiddles), a loyal castle staff that is like family, a handsome Viking, and more than enough suspects.

With so many suspects, it is easy to be taken in by the red herrings. I knew who the killer wasn’t, but did not figure out who it was. I cannot wait to see what will happen next in this highly entertaining cozy series.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

Murder Most Fowl: Food Truck Mystery by Carmela Dutra
Review by Tracy Condie

What a great start to a new cozy series. Carmela Dutra should be strutting like a rooster after writing such a clever cozy mystery based on a family food truck business. I was instantly hooked because I love a good culinary cozy with a slightly snarky, slightly silly sleuth. Beth (Bethany) Lloyd starts out this adventure by getting arrested, in a chicken costume, for assaulting another food truck owner’s truck. I know that I am going to like her because she introduces herself to the reader and states that nothing she does is subtle. The snark shows up right away as illustrated by her nickname for the arresting officer, Officer Pretty Boy. Yep, that comes back to peck her in the face when it turns out that he is really Detective “Pretty Boy” Kane.

Beth isn’t alone in this adventure though. She has her BFF Rylie Cortes, and her womb-mate/twin brother and lawyer-to-be, Seth. And what an adventure it is going to be since their food truck, Kluckin’ Good, has been selected for the reality food show/contest The Food Truck Showdown and a chance to win $50,000, not to mention the fantastic publicity just from being a part of the show. Unfortunately, a local rival and nemesis, Benji Mayhews, owner of The Dog House food truck, is a contestant as well. So, of course, Benji becomes a victim, and Beth a suspect who is questioned not once but twice by Detective Pretty Boy. Their playful banter is highly entertaining, and almost as good as the twins back and forth about who is older.

The easygoing light-heartedness is perfect to counterbalance the over-the-top reality TV drama and keeps the reader entertained and interested. The contestants, all unique, and all offering some great food, are all suspects, even though they have received threatening serial-killer-like magazine cutout messages. What cozy sleuth can ignore a food-related threatening message created out of magazine bits?

Beth and Rylie are true crime fans, so of course Beth intends to use all her knowledge to get to the bottom of the strange goings on. There are plenty of clues to be followed and scenarios to be sorted out. Interestingly enough, Detective Kane is happy to listen to Beth’s theories, and does his best to warn her to stay out of his investigation. I am looking forward to seeing how that relationship progresses as the series continues.

I found this story to be as appetizing and as original as the menu items and daily specials that are described in great detail. Speaking of food, I cannot wait to make and enjoy two recipes, The Kluckin’ Greek wings and Mac and Cheese Poppers, that are included in the book.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copies of all 3 books, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “historical/cozy” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 1, 2025. 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.

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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.