A Puzzling Pizza Mystery with All the Toppings!

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Murder in the Upper Crust
A Deep Dish Mystery by Mindy Quigley

Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press for this free ARC!

The gist: Pizza shop owner Delilah O’Leary gets suckered into catering a wellness retreat led by a mindfulness influencer (aka grifting quack) who demands nothing but Instagram‑worthy perfection. She’s basically the female version of Joe Dispenza, which makes her suspicious right from the jump. Sigh… I hate this timeline we’re living in. When a guest is found dead in her zen tent (killed by a poisonous candle, no less) it’s up to Delilah, her staff, and her detective boyfriend to track down the killer.

What I liked: I quite enjoyed the cozy pizzeria, the very place I’d love to visit while tootling around a Midwestern tourist town. And of course, how could I not love Butterball, the tubby ginger pizza‑shop cat?

What irked me: It bothered me that Delilah is sooooo beholden to her ex, Sam. As the owner of her home and the pizza shop, he could rip everything away, leaving her homeless and jobless. Thankfully, he’s a nice guy, but geez, that’s a lot of stress.

Thoughts on the main character: As someone with ADHD, I will never understand type‑A control freaks, so Delilah is unrelatable and, at times, unlikable with her persistent need to make everything perfect. However, I’m glad she did some self‑reflecting while listening to the “wellness” speakers preach about mindfulness and such. I’m kind of new to this series (maybe I read the first book a while back?), so can someone please tell me why her aunt is such a miserable wench? Is she supposed to be old and crusty with a soft underbelly?

Thoughts on the mystery: Although the characters get two stars, I’m giving a generous four stars to the mystery itself, which is full of suspects and a few red herrings. We learn more about Sam’s girlfriend, Silvermoon (insert eye‑rolling emoji here), and pizzeria staffer, Sonya, whose mom is a B on steroids. Wowza—so many problematic women in this book.

Honorable mention: How did I forget to add that the new chief of police is an absolute gem? I forgot her name already, but she’s incredibly interesting and likable, with her strategic small talk and cunning interrogation skills. Can we please get a spin‑off series with her as the main character?

Overall thoughts: Despite the unlikable MC, this is a solid mystery with some unforgettable characters (for better or worse). The detective boyfriend is kind of a milquetoast sleuth, but that could be said for most detectives in cozy mysteries, who somehow manage to miss every lead in the case. The sad thing is that this is probably very true to life and entirely believable. Pro tip: Don’t read this on an empty stomach—especially if you’re a cheese lover.

The Key to a Killer: Ghosts, Tech Bros, and a Gen Z Sleuth

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First, a big THANK YOU to my book dealer at St. Martin’s Press. I can never refuse her offers of free ARCs, and I am more than delighted to add any Olivia Blacke book to my teetering TBR pile.

In this third installment of the Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries, Ruby decides to tackle the cold case of her roommate’s untimely death. Let me back up a bit. This series features two equally lovable protagonists: Ruby (the quirky, broke Gen Z girly) and Cordelia (the murdered woman who now haunts Ruby’s humble abode (a rundown Boston apartment). Love the premise? Me too!!!

Here are my thoughts:

The gist: This mystery centers on a vexing cold case: Cordelia’s murder, which the lazy, useless cops carelessly wrote off as a suicide. It’s up to Ruby—our hapless, disheveled amateur detective—to dig into the nefarious underbelly of a shady tech company (also her workplace’s rival) and figure out what’s going on with Cordelia’s former paramour… who just so happens to be Ruby’s boss. You see, Cordelia used to work there too, and she had an uncanny gift for writing and deciphering code. Messy, right?

Thoughts on the characters: Unlike your typical “Mary Sue” cozy mystery sleuths, Ruby and Cordelia are endearingly flawed and complex. Ruby comes from a loving home and is still new to adulting, while Cordelia’s past is steeped in abuse, neglect, and even homelessness. Together, they form a mother‑daughter bond that warms my hardened heart. I adore how Cordelia shoplifts grown‑up clothes for Ruby and keeps watch over her. It’s just so dang sweet! Ugh! I want a motherly ghost roomie!!!

The setting: I usually read cozies set in charming resort towns, but this gritty Boston backdrop really works for the storyline. It’s gross, dirty, loud, and crime‑ridden—adding an extra layer of danger to the story. There’s also a subplot involving break‑ins at Ruby and Cordelia’s apartment building that may tie into the cold case. Such intrigue!

The backstories: This book finally reveals Cordelia’s pre‑ghostly life. As Ruby hunts down clues, Cordelia experiences flashbacks of her corporeal days, giving us insight into her upbringing, her brother’s path to prison (we’ll get to him later), and her… questionable romantic choices. This lady had a lot going on.

The romance: We’ve got a bit of a love triangle brewing between Ruby, her good guy neighbor (who works at the rival tech company), and Cordelia’s delinquent brother Ian, freshly out of prison. We learn plenty about both suitors, and boy does Ruby have a lot on her plate!  Oh to be young and in love again…sigh.

Overall: The Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries remains in my top ten (maybe even top five!) of all-time favorite cozy series, and this book did not disappoint. We finally get answers to Cordelia’s mysterious past and the tech companies’ hidden secrets. I was a little misty-eyed when it ended, but the author leaves just enough room for a few more books in the series. Here’s hoping!

Pumpkin Spice Pre-Season Reading

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We aren’t quite at peak PSL season yet, but that won’t stop me from reading anything pumpkin-spice themed! A big thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the free ARC of The Pumpkin Spice Café, the 23rd installment in Ellie Alexander’s prolific Bakeshop Mystery series—wowza!

Here are my thoughts:

Summed Up: A very pregnant Jules must juggle her busy coffeeshop and bakery while solving yet another mystery. This time, it’s the death of a snooty wedding planner. Now who’s going to take on the challenge of Lance and Arlo’s over-the-top wedding?

What I liked: The pumpkin spice goodies, of course! Beyond that, I mostly enjoyed the cozy bakery vibes set against a snow-dusted Pacific Northwest tourist town. Such bliss.

Thoughts on the mystery: This was a solid whodunnit with plenty of suspects who had motives for killing off a loathsome wedding planner. I do enjoy mysteries surrounding weddings—so much drama and gossip.

What annoyed me: This is going to sound terrible, but oh, what the heck! I’m not a big fan of pregnant main characters. It’s not fun having to endure the many scenes of Jules getting decaf coffee (bleck!) and talking about cravings, morning sickness, aches and pains, ad nauseam. And the annoyances are only going to get worse when the babies enter the scene. SO NOT MY THING.

Thoughts on the main character: Jules is fine—maybe a little too perfect—but I still root for her. She’s clearly the town sweetheart and a bit of a Mary Sue, so I can’t really relate to her. Honestly, the only thing we have in common is our voracious appetite.

Overall: If you’re in the mood for a cozy fall mystery, this is it! This was a very relaxing read that made me yearn for baked goodies nonstop. Hmm… I wonder if Haley’s Cakes and Cookies is still open. I shall jump on my bike and grab a snack for my next cozy mystery adventure!

A Meowsterious Halloween at the Cat Café

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The gist: Café owner Maddie gets a tall order for a kitty‑themed birthday bash on a tight turnaround. What rich people want, rich people get, am I right? Anyway, the rich lady in question is none other than Olivia McAllister—Maddie’s mother’s childhood BFF, who vanished inexplicably when her family blew out of town after the aunt went missing. That cold‑case mystery is about to be reopened once Maddie and JJ (her ginger kitty sidekick) get on the case! And she’d better get to the bottom of it quickly, because her mother lands in hot water when Olivia ends up dead. Yikes.

What I liked: As always, I loved being swept away to the cozy seaside island. The focal point of the mystery, Mermaid Cottage, is the purrrrrrfect setting for a Halloween‑themed story—with a ghostly kitty and a hidden room to boot.

What irked me: I like my sleuths scrappy and resourceful, but Maddie seems a little too well-connected, with her family of big shots and a lead detective practically in her pocket. I’d also love more scenes in the cat café, which is the main reason I read this series. More kitties, please!

Thoughts on the mystery: I love a good cold‑case mystery, so this is one of my favorite installments thus far. There were plenty of suspects to keep me puzzled, including Olivia’s enigmatic daughter, a sketchy environmentalist charlatan, a quirky local historian, and an odd girl who’s trying to copyCAT Maddie’s business. Sorry—I couldn’t help myself.

Overall: This is a solid whodunnit that kept me guessing until the end. It’s a quick, fun beach read for those of us who need an escape from the reality of our falling democracy.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the free ARC!

My Thoughts on The Housemaid Books

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I finally got on the Housemaid bandwagon and read the first couple of books in the hit series. I’d love to watch the movie, but I’ll hold off until I can find it for free somewhere because I really don’t want to support any Sydney Sweeney movies. Why, of all actors, did they have to cast her! Ugh. Oh well—the books are always better, and they don’t require a subscription to any fascist‑owned streaming channels… which are few and far between these days.

Anyhoo, here are my thoughts on the books, which I must admit are pretty great. I’m looking forward to reading the next two in the series.

Book 1: The Housemaid

The gist:
A down‑on‑her‑luck ex‑convict has little more than her car and the clothes on her back, but as luck would have it, she scores a job as a live‑in housemaid for a rich couple in a mansion—with a hunky gardener to boot! So, what’s the catch? Well, the lady of the house is a sadist, the child is a monster, and the husband is a little too nice, if you catch my drift. I’ll leave it there to avoid spoilers, but get ready for some wild twists and turns.

What I liked:
The suspense! Not once did my mind drift while listening to this on audio (the narrator is amazing, by the way), because I kept asking: Why is this crazy rich lady deliberately sabotaging her maid? Why did she really hire her? What horrible plans does she have in store? And what’s the deal with the husband who can’t stand up for himself? Oops… I’m entering spoiler territory, so I’ll stop.

What irked me:
The ending had quite a few loopholes, and some of the most questionable behaviors were explained away too quickly. I think the author really should’ve looked back at some of those chapters and adjusted a few scenes that were a little too extreme to tie up with a neat little bow at the end.

Overall:
This was a fun, super‑fast read that I highly recommend taking on a plane ride. The hours will fly right by.

Book 2: The Housemaid’s Secret

The gist:
Millie is caught in a pickle yet again—this time with a mysterious boss who keeps his sick wife hidden away in a room. Did Millie learn her lessons from her past boss from hell? Of course not! She noses around the posh New York apartment and quickly lands herself in a very sticky situation.

What I liked:
Although I was annoyed with Millie throughout most of the book, I enjoyed the suspense of figuring out how the heck she was ever going to dig herself out of the trap she fell into… which anyone with two working brain cells could’ve seen coming from a mile away. I also enjoyed the chapters narrated by the villain, who was PURE EVIL. I could not wait to see how she’d get taken down in the end.

What irked me:
Millie… girl! I really thought you were smart and, most importantly, that you wanted to stay out of prison. The second she got roped into a risky rescue mission, I knew she was cooked. She was also so awful to her perfectly nice—and rich—boyfriend who wanted to give her a safe place to live and unconditional love. Not only did she lie by omission about her lurid past, she also flaked on their dates time and time again. Her thoughtless antics annoyed me to the point where I didn’t much care about her impending demise.

Overall:
I lost some respect for Millie, but I did enjoy her many misadventures—and the author did a great job adding an intriguing new character at the end who will make the third book extra fun to read.

Haunted House Story Gone Wrong: One Star for ‘A Box Full of Darkness’ by Simone St. James

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The gist: Otherworldly forces call a group of siblings back to their haunted childhood home to uncover what happened to their missing little brother, Ben. What caused him to vanish while playing a game of hide‑and‑seek? What is this strange veil of darkness that seems to shroud the town of Fell, New York? Is Ben’s disappearance tied to other strange happenings, like the girl who went missing on the railroad tracks? All of this sounds deliciously spooky, doesn’t it?

What I liked: Honestly, the only thing I truly enjoyed was the faint tie‑in to The Sundown Motel, which added a nice sense of impending dread.

Thoughts on the MC: Sadly, this book doesn’t really have a main character, as it’s told through multiple narratives. We begin with Violet, whom I initially found fascinating. She sees dead people and has been haunted all her life by a dark presence named Lily. Plus, she has a cool job: cleaning out the homes of the recently deceased. If the book had been told solely from her perspective, I think I’d be writing a very different review. The problem is that we never get to know any of the characters on a deeper level. They all come across as whiny and unlikable, constantly bickering. And bickering characters are a huge pet peeve of mine. A little goes a loooooong way.

What irked me: I just couldn’t get into this book. It was far too easy to set down and pick up something else. I needed breaks from the nonstop arguing, and the ghost story itself felt rather silly. The big showdown was a mess—more like a scene from a horror‑movie parody. I don’t know, y’all. This really didn’t feel like a Simone St. James book. I’ve always loved her work, even the ones with mixed reviews. Surprisingly, this one has high ratings on Goodreads, so I guess I’m the outlier.

Overall: If you enjoy a multiple‑narrative paranormal drama/thriller with over‑the‑top ghostly antics, go for it. I prefer my ghost stories a bit more subtle. If you’re looking for a strong haunted‑homecoming tale, try Small Town Horror by Ronald Malfi or Home Before Dark by Riley Sager.

A Fun Cozy Mystery for HGTV Fans: Stars for ‘The Barn Identity’ by Diane Kelly

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Hello and happy Caturday!!! It’s been a looooooong time since my last post. Life is just way too busy with freelancing, my full-time gig, dog walking, dad stuff, etcetera, etcetera. But nevermind all that! I am here and ready to share my latest cozy mystery recommendation for all my cat-loving, HGTV-watching readers. A big thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this free ARC. This book comes out on March 26th, so get ready for a good time with this latest installment of the House Flipper Mystery Series!

The gist: House renovator/flipper Whitney Whitaker Flynn is caught up in another mystery—and this time it’s the case of a dead exposé reporter in a soon‑to‑be‑remodeled barn! With so many people holding motives for murdering a nosy reporter, our intrepid sleuth must track down the clues, clear her own name, and get back to spiffing up that rustic ol’ barn.

The setting: In true cozy fashion, this story is set in a small rural community on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee. My first thought: Ewwww—MAGA! But thankfully, Whitney seems to lean left with her views on veganism and the environment. Yay, Whitney! A few scenes take place in a plant‑based specialty restaurant with a backyard crew of cows, pigs, and critters. Diners can even spy on the resident cow through the restaurant’s surveillance camera setup. Love it.

Thoughts on the MC: Unlike many cozy‑mystery sleuths who are TSTL (too stupid to live), Whitney knows how to close a case without wandering into an abandoned building alone to interrogate the killer. She has excellent sleuthing instincts and knows when to call in the big dogs when things get dicey. She’s also passionate about preserving a barn that once served as part of the Underground Railroad, which is truly commendable. Oh, and she’s a cat lady to boot! I adored the little chapters narrated by her kitty, Sawdust—such a delightful treat for us crazy cat lovers.

What irked me: Everything about this mystery is great—but I don’t really enjoy reading about pregnancies. I get it: Whitney’s in a loving relationship with her detective husband, and babies often come with the territory of a happy marriage. But it’s just super uninteresting to me, and all the baby‑kicking commentary is distracting. It’s like listening to a friend moan about indigestion nonstop. Bleck.

Overall thoughts: This is a solid mystery with red herrings and interesting suspects, including sketchy churchgoers, a money‑grubbing real‑estate tycoon, and even the plant‑based restaurateurs. Noooo—please don’t let it be them

Two Stars for ‘The Widow’s House’ by Carol Goodman

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Let’s start on a positive note. The book opens with a deliciously spooky atmosphere centered on an old, haunted manor dripping with secrets and lore. A downtrodden couple, hoping to salvage their flailing marriage, move into the caretaker’s cottage on the estate, which just so happens to be owned by their former creative writing professor. Things go bump in the night. A ghostly woman drifts through the misty apple orchards. A phantom baby wails in the darkness. Such fun! I was fully on board.

And then the story veers sharply into domestic drama territory, saddling us with two deeply unlikable protagonists, Jess and Clare. The ghosts fade into the background while Jess’s red flags start whipping in the wind, and Clare twists herself into a pretzel making excuses for him—usuually while tearing herself down in the process. At one point she actually says, “I can’t blame Jess for straying because I’ve let myself go.” Absolutely not. This is 2026, not 1956. Her inability to stand up for herself was maddening, and not in a compelling, character-driven way—just frustrating.

As for the plot, it ended up being far lighter on the paranormal than I anticipated, which was a real disappointment. The twist wasn’t much of a surprise, though the suspense did pick up slightly toward the end. Still, the overall experience was a dud for me.

If I could ask the author one question, it would be this: How are readers supposed to care about the story when we can’t bring ourselves to care about the characters?

A Wintery Cozy Mystery for My Fellow Beer Lovers

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I love, love, love the Sloan Krause mystery series—not so much for the puzzling whodunits, but more for the small Bavarian town surrounded by snow-topped mountains and German-themed breweries! Be still, my heart! Here in Texas, I jump at any chance to visit our very own little German town in the Hill Country called Fredericksburg. It’s just too much fun shopping at cutesy stores and dining at my favorite German-themed microbrewery. Oh, how I love the Enchanted Rock Ale… sigh.

Anyhoo, this mystery was a little weak. The killer reveal was kind of a no-brainer, but whatevs. I enjoyed accompanying Sloan and her fellow microbrewing partner/love interest as they puzzled over the mystery whilst visiting with his family, who, of course, are as charming and lovely as Sloan’s in-laws. Naturally, it would be boring if everything worked out perfectly, so Garrett has to come clean with a secret he’s been withholding for silly reasons. This is why romance books drive me nuts—too much secrecy and miscommunication! At least this time, Sloan chose to actually communicate with him instead of holding it all in. Way to go, girl! This might be the first time she’s gotten out of her own way, and I love this for her.

Overall, this book gave me all the wintry, Bavarian village vibes that made my cozy little heart brim with joy. However, die-hard mystery lovers may feel it’s lacking, so please note that this is more of a 100-piece children’s jigsaw puzzle than a 1,000-piece brain-scratcher. In this case, we’re dealing with a rather shady group of doctors and researchers at the local hospital who are about to announce a “breakthrough” medical miracle study that will rock the entire world off its axis. How this is happening in a tiny tourist town of two thousand residents is beyond me, but let’s not overthink it. As it happens, one of the researchers loses her mind when a flash drive goes missing, and she makes a big scene at Nitro while frantically searching for this thing that apparently will be the death of her. Oops… wrong choice of words. Anyhoo… a murder happens—on the ski slopes, of course—and all signs point to the shady doctors.

Again, I wasn’t too thrilled with the mystery in this installment, but I enjoyed the entire experience nonetheless. There’s a lot to be said for interesting characters, a romance you really want to root for, and a cozy Bavarian town that just brims with holiday charm in the wintertime. So grab yourself a hoppy winter ale—or a hot toddy—and curl up with this book for a cozy night in, away from the madness and crowds.

Two Creepy Yet Confusing Haunted House Books

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We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer: ⭐⭐⭐

What’s with all the confusing haunted house stories lately? I’m all for a dose of creepy ambiguity, but this one veered into full-on carnival funhouse chaos. I’m being generous with three stars because, honestly, the beginning hooked me.

We meet Eve and Charlie, a house-flipping couple settling into a dilapidated old property. While Charlie’s out on a beer run, a family shows up at the door asking to look around their former home. Personally, that’s an immediate nope—especially for anyone alone in the middle of nowhere—but Eve can’t shake her people-pleasing ways. Cue the strangers making unsettling comments, overstaying their welcome, and then—oh boy—one of the kids disappears into the basement.

Up to this point, the eerie foreshadowing had me glued to the pages. But then the story swerved hard into alternate-universe territory, and my head started spinning. Way, way, way too much was happening, and not in a good way. I’m not a fan of fantasy horror, so this detour wasn’t my jam.

The ending left me scratching my head rather than shivering in ghoulish delight. That said, plenty of readers are raving about this book, so maybe it’s just me. If you love cosmic horror, you’ll probably eat this up. For me, though, it was a promising start that unraveled into confusion.

The Babysitter Lives and Killer on the Road by Stephen Graham Jones ⭐⭐⭐

Nobody—and I mean nobody—writes like Stephen Graham Jones. His imagination is wild, his characters are messy yet endearing, and his BRUTAL death scenes. Few authors can craft a final girl as fierce and rage-fueled as he does.

Most of his protagonists are Indigenous teenage girls navigating broken homes, poverty, and systemic oppression. That’s true for the fearless heroines in both novellas, Killer on the Road and The Babysitter Lives. Of the two, Killer on the Road easily takes the crown for me. Think Death Proof meets Jeepers Creepers meets Joyride: nonstop action and sheer terror along the Wyoming trucker highway with a cannibalistic monster stalking the asphalt. Some of those death scenes will haunt me forever—especially when I’m driving a lonely stretch of road flanked by semis.

The chase kicks off when a runaway hitchhiker crosses paths with some god-fearing Bible thumpers, only to later find them dead in a ditch. From there, she and her friends spiral into a series of very, very bad decisions—resulting in a massive truckstop fire. Once they hit Highway 81, all hell breaks loose, and the ride is pure nightmare fuel. Did I love this story? Mostly yes, but the ending didn’t give me the answers I needed. Ugh!!! I wasn’t too keen on the teenagers’ reckless endangerment, and I certainly could’ve done without some of these scenes involving innocent dogs. But overall, it’s highly entertaining.

As for The Babysitter Lives, I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I went in expecting a creepy babysitter horror story, but what I got instead was a strange blend of fantasy horror—complete with time loops, alternate worlds, and an unreliable narrator. Much of it felt confusing, and I often had to reread passages just to piece together what was happening.

Despite plenty of action unfolding throughout Charlotte’s nightmare, the pacing dragged, and at times the story felt overly long and, dare I say, a bit dull. On the bright side, Charlotte herself was a standout. Her determination to protect the kids was fierce, and I couldn’t help but think Laurie Strode would be proud.

Sadly, I missed Stephen Graham Jones at the Texas Book Festival. After running a ten-mile race that morning, I had zero energy left for the downtown gauntlet of driving, parking, and endless walking. Ugh! I’d love the chance to tell him how much his characters mean to me, especially his ruthless final girls. There’s something about them that resonates deeply…maybe it’s that simmering, repressed rage. Jones has a gift for capturing complex emotions that are nearly impossible to put into words, and he does it with such rawness and humor.

I wish I’d snagged his autograph this time, but maybe he’ll make a stop at BookPeople one of these days. Fingers crossed!