Ending Before Starting

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I realize this is the first day of February and we should be discussing all the wonderful books coming out this month. However, I need to end January before I can start February.

A bit confused? Oh, welcome to my world. Now that we’re on the same page I can explain. There were three more books released in January that I wanted to share with you. Yes, I know there were way more than three, but these are three cozy mysteries I’d like to tell you about.

MORTAR AND MURDER by Jennie Bentley

Renovating a 1783 center-chimney Colonial house on a remote island off the coast of Maine doesn’t sound too bad. But Avery and Derek quickly learn otherwise.

The have a lot to deal with and none of it has to do with renovation work. There’s a mysterious animal living under the porch, a thriller-writing neighbor, and a dead woman found floating in the ocean.

When a another body is discovered, Avery can’t help but get involved to find the killer. This renovation job could be deadly.

An added bonus is home renovation and design tips included in the book. This is the fourth installment in the Do-It-Yourself Mystery series.

Mortar and Murder by Jennie Bentley, A Do-It-Yourself Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2011, ISBN: 978-0-425-23926-1, Paperback, 320 pages

THIEVES! By Hannah Dennison

Aspiring investigative journalist Vicky Hill thinks there’s more to the death of an unidentified woman found in a shallow stream.

Vicky thinks the woman’s death is somehow connected to a string of recent silver thefts throughout the small town of Gipping-on-Plym. And can the thefts be connected to the band of gypsies that just set up camp at The Grange?

Since both her boss and the local police refuse to investigate the matter, Vicky takes it upon herself to find out the truth. Will she uncover the killer and clinch her fourth national exclusive or will the killer end the story for her?

This is the fourth installment in the Vicky Hill series.

Thieves! By Hannah Dennison, A Vicky Hill Exclusive, Berkley Prime Crime, @2011, ISBN: 978-0-425-23927-8, Paperback, 320 pages

CATCH HER IF YOU CAN by Merline Lovelace.

The heat of the west Texas desert was hot enough for USAF Lieutenant Samantha Spade. But, the dog-like robot she and her team were testing was about to make it even hotter.

When SNFIR (Self-Nurturing Find and Identify Robot) tries to get into the bed of a pickup truck at the local watering hole, Sam has it shut down and goes to retrieve it. The owner of the truck barrels out of the establishment with gun in hand, sees the robot under Sam’s arm and thinks she’s stealing from his truck. In a matter of seconds gun fire erupts and the truck owner is dead, shot in self-defense.

That’s when Sam makes the gruesome discovery in the back of the pickup - a cooler containing three human heads.

Turns out the dead man is a contract killer on the FBI’s most wanted list. A hefty reward is coming Sam’s way if she can keep from getting killed herself.

This is the third installment in the Samantha Spade Mystery series. It is a stand alone book as this was my first introduction to the series and had no problem reading out of order.

Catch Her If You Can by Merline Lovelace, A Samantha Spade Mystery, Berkley Prime Crime, @2011, ISBN: 978-0-425-23925-4, Paperback, 240 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - All three of these books were sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review them. However, receiving the complimentary copies did not influence my reviews.

Now that we’ve finished January, are you ready for February reads? There’s a long list of wonderful books coming out this month. Settle back and get ready to enjoy. Do you have any special books you’re waiting to read? Me, I’m reading Ellen Byerrum’s SHOT THROUGH VELVET.