Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery

Well, back in January, I read JoAnne Fluke's "Peach Cobbler Mystery." Now, in the heat of June, I found a copy of her first book of the Hannah Swensen mystery series, "Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery." This copy was located in the San Antonio Barnes & Noble. It's a great read for the pool-side.

In her debut, Hannah has recently returned to her hometown of Lake Eden and opened a bakery. One morning she discovers the body of the dairy delivery man outside of her shop. Her brother-in-law is the police officer assigned to investigate the murder. Hannah agrees to snoop around a bit and help him out so he can receive a promotion.

During the course of the book, we're introduced to the cast of characters in the small Minnesota town. These include her sister, her niece, her widowed mother and two love interests, Norman the dentist and Mike the new detective in town.

This was a great, delightful, light read --- perfect for a vacation read. I'm even planning on trying some of the recipes which were included.

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.

Thoroughly Southern Mystery Series

Patricia Sprinkle is the author of a "Thoroughly Southern Mystery Series" starring Georgia magistrate MacLaren Yarbrough. These are easy cozy reads. I recently read "Guess Who's Coming to Die" in which Mac is invited to join the upper-crust Magnolia Ladies Investment Club. At her first meeting Mac discovers the body of one of the members with a corkscrew stuck in her neck.

While this book was somewhat enjoyable, I just didn't connect with the character of MacLaren. Sometimes you just don't click.

I think I enjoy more Laura Childs' Tea Shop mystery series which takes place in Charleston, South Carolina and follows the exploits of tea shop owner and sometime sleuth Theodosia Browning. I don't think I've written about Theo's adventures in this blog, but I've read several and frankly I just enjoy her more --- even if Childs seems at times to be a little too overly affectionate with her heroine.

So, if you'd like a Southern mystery, I prefer Theo over Mac!

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.

Sharon Kay Penman's Mystery

Not too long ago I was raving about Sharon Kay Penman's triumph "Splendour in the Sunne." I decided to read the first mystery in her Medieval Mystery series entitled "The Queen's Man." I thought it might be a good read since Will Thomas (he of Thomas Llewellyn and Cyrus Barker books) lists her as a favorite author of his.

Penman's mystery centers around the character of Justin de Quincy, an illegitimate son of a high cleric. Justin witnesses a murder, and he promises to take the letter being carried by the victim to the court of Queen Eleanor. Eleanor is now the Queen Mother while her son Richard the Lionhearted is ruling. Court intrigues and domestic secrets abound when Justin takes the letter to the Queen who then engages him to discover the murderer(s).

While the mystery isn't much of a mystery, the characters in this novel are so likable you manage to carry on. I particularly liked Luke de Marston, an undersheriff of Winchester, and Jonas, another undersheriff in London. Nell, the manager of an ale house, is another likable personage.

While I can't say that this book left me amazed at the story, the experience or the writing, I did enjoy it for what it was: a book to read by the pool.

Until next time, may your reading be both pleasurable and profitable.