by Sunny Frazier

March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb. That’s why animal mysteries are featured in this month’s edition. Also start your spring reading with three new series hitting the bookstores.

First we head to Fredericksburg, Texas, where Tally Holt has opened Tally’s Olde Tyme Sweets. The candy store features grandma’s recipes for Mallomars, Twinkies, fudge, and taffy. The shop is a big hit with tourists. Then the local handyman, the adopted son of the mayor, is found stabbed to death in Tally’s kitchen. The man was the town Casanova who borrowed money from the women he wooed. Revenge is Sweet is the first Vintage Sweets mysteries by Kay George.

Over in Blueberry Cove, Maine, Iris Buckley has an online apron business and works in her grandma’s shop, Ruffles & Bows. They are ready to add the latest and vintage linen fashions, sewing groups and classes. When a skeleton is found in the basement, grandma recognizes the body. Then the body of their corrupt landlord turns up and grandma becomes a suspect. With the help of an old high school crush and her best friend, Iris must piece together clues. Hems & Homicide is the first Apron Shop Mystery from Elizabeth Penney.

Animals are a family affair with the Denton’s. Dad is a veterinarian, and Mom rescues animals. Daughter Liz Denton helps by housing two beagles and a calico cat. When the elderly owner of an aging Pomeranian named Stewie is unable to care for him, Liz agrees to take him in. When she and her son go to pick up Stewie, a rival rescue group, a nurse, and the old man’s son is there. She agrees to pick up the dog later. When they return, the old man has a knife in his back, and Liz’s son is the suspect. The Pomeranian Always Barks Twice is the first in the Furever Pets Mysteries by Alex Erickson.

First, it’s Pomeranians, now it’s Corgis. In Cozy Corgi Mystery #16, Bookseller Winifred (aka Fred) Page and corgi Watson are happy sharing pastries at her Cozy Corgi Bookstore & Bakery in the small town of Estes Park, Colorado. But when a dead body is found at Madame Delilah’s Old Tyme Photography studio, the pair is on the case. The revelation of a love one’s past has Fred’s hippie step-dad dealing with a new reality, so Fred and Watson must put the pieces together before there’s another death. Phony Photos is from the quill of Mildred Abbott.

Are you ready for a chiweenie (Chihuahua-Dachshund)? Neither is bookkeeper Sophie, aka “Phee,” Kimball. She lives near Sun City West, Arizona, with her police boyfriend, but not far enough away from her mom. Mom wants to enter her dog Streetman in Precious Pooches costume event. If he wins, the chiweenie will be the star of the St. Patrick’s Day parade. But then the doggie uncovers the body of a seafood distributor from Phoenix under a tarp-covered grill. He died from ingesting a toxic palm leaf. Another dog owner nearly dies of the same poison. Is Phee’s mom the next to go? Time to sniff out a killer in Dressed Up 4 Murder, a Sophie Kimball Mystery #6 by J.C. Eaton.

Kathi Daley brings us her fourth Cat in the Attic Mystery: The Secret of Logan Pond. Calliope Rose Collins has moved back to Foxtail Lake where her great-aunt and childhood friend live. She’s working as a newspaper reporter. She’s currently writing a story of a cold case involving the disappearance of a twelve-year-old boy at a camping site twenty-five years ago. Does it have anything to do with the grisly murder her police officer friend is working on?

Best of the Rest

Lee Hollis—Death of a Blueberry Tart A Hayley Powell Mystery #12

Laura Childs—Lavender Blue Murder A Tea Shop Mystery #21

Peggy Ehrhart—A Fatal Yarn A Knit & Nibble Mystery #5

Maddie Day—Nacho Average Murder A Country Store Mystery #7

Annabel Chase—Magic & Misdeeds Starry Hollow Witches #11

Addison Moore & Bellamy Bloom—A Killer Trail A Country Cottage Mystery #7

Dianne Harmon—The Other Witch A Miranda Riley Paranormal Cozy #2

Dianne Harmon—Murder in the Forest A Liz Lucas Mystery #12

A.R. Winters—Lethal Cruise: A Humorous Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries #9

Judi Lynn—Body in the Apartment A Jazzi Zanders Mystery #2

Lily Harper Hart—Wicked Reunion An Ivy Morgan Mystery #16

Diane Kelly—Dead in the Doorway A House-Flipper Mystery #2

Amanda Flower—Death and Daisies A Magic Garden Mystery #2

G.A. McKevett—Bitter Brew A Savannah Reid Mystery #24

Kathi Daley—Proof in the Photo The Inn at Holiday Bay #9

Molly Fitz—Legal Seagull Pet Whisperer P.I. #12

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. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. A new episode went up this week!

Or click on this link to take you to Mysterious Galaxy’s website where you can purchase any of these books & a portion will go to help support KRL:

Sunny Frazier worked with an undercover narcotics team in Fresno County for 17 years before turning her energies to writing the Christy Bristol Astrology Mysteries. Based in the San Joaquin Valley of California, the novels are inspired by real cases and 35 years of casting horoscopes.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases.