Hot Fudge Murder

In Cynthia Baxter's Hot Fudge Murder, the 2nd installment in the Lickety Splits culinary cozy mystery series, this delightful story had whipped out all the ingredients for a good mystery: drama, suspense,  a hint of romance, and a compelling story line. For Kate McKay, she runs the Lickety Splits ice cream shop in the Hudson Valley area in New York. When her shop was asked to be invited to cater an event from Omar DeVane, a well-known fashion designer, she was more than happy to oblige. But behind the scenes, she overheard heated voices in Omar's fashion and had gotten to know more about his inner circle of friends and co-workers. When he was later found strangled by a necktie, Kate was in the neck of things to discover who murdered him and why. Meanwhile, she had to deal with things at home like with her Grandmother's secret activities, her niece's love life, and to figure out her own between her former boyfriend Jake and Brody, the new guy in town who ran an adventure tour shop next door. Talk about a twisted love triangle. As Kate gets closer to learn the truth about who killed Omar, it brought her closer to danger when she had to fend for herself to solve the puzzle.

This was a thrilling treat to read something new from Cynthia Baxter. It had been a long while since I've read any of her books. I did care for Kate and how she run a successful ice cream shop with exotic and unbelievable flavor combinations. I did love how she figured out who killed Omar and why and how she cared for her niece Emma. She did end up in a pickle when she has two men fawn over her. I did love the Hudson Valley area for the central location and scenic settings around that part of town. This cozy has a scoop of mystery, a dollop of suspense, a sprinkle of romance, and a dash of non-stop dramatic action on every page.

Will you stop by to check out the scoop in Hot Fudge Murder today?

Hare Today, Dead Tomorrow

In Cynthia Baxter's Hare Today, Dead Tomorrow, the fourth installment in the Reigning Cats and Dogs Cozy Mystery series, this cozy mystery will shed some lights into some dark aspects of the winery business. For Dr. Jessica Popper, things couldn't be more sublime, when she and her boyfriend Nick Burby to live together. But when her best friend Dr. Suzanne Fox is accusing of killing her ex's current flame, she would do anything to help her out and prove her innocence. While her mobile vet practice is up and running, she discovered the world that Cassie Thorndyke left behind by talking to her family, which included her troubled brother, grieving father, and her own stepmother. She also took a good luck at the restaurant world and Suzanne's former ex, too. But meanwhile, someone has it in for Jessica by leaving her creepy emails and following her every move. While she becomes a local celebrity with her own show on a local network, she pieces the puzzle together, one piece at a time, to take a real good look at the clues on the crime scene and what they meant. When she figured it out, it's up to her to confront the killer before he comes after next in the final showdown before life and death.

This was another compelling and riveting installment in the cozy series. I cared for Jessica and Nick as an amazing couple.  I also felt compassion for Suzanne, who had been through the wringer no less, and doesn't deserve Marcus after he ditched her. I did like how she would do anything for her friend and how she didn't let anything deter her from finding the truth. She didn't let her newfound notoriety stop her either as she grabbed the local spotlight for her show. I did love the concept of her mobile vet services and her having her own local cable access show. I loved the Long Island scenic locations and gripping scenery from the vineyards and beyond. This would grip you on the first page and take you on a good ride with drama, nonstop action, suspense and a hint of mystery too.

Will you check out Hare Today, Dead Tomorrow today?

Look but not touch

If you love great cozy mysteries, you'll enjoy Cynthia Baxter's Reigning Cats and Dogs Mysteries starring Jessica Popper, DVM. Monkey See Monkey Die is the seventh book in the series, when it deals with Jessica preparing to get married to Nick, and solving a friend from vet school's murder. This deals with exotic animals and zoos, when these animals are poached and sold illegally. Plenty of action and suspense for this drama. If you haven't read this series before, start with the first book, Dead Canaries Don't Sing. I'll be reviews books #5-6 later this year and will read her new series and book #8, next year. Enjoy! And be careful of poisonous animals!