My Review for The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict

Cosy mysteries are really not my thing - they used to be - I used to read a lot of Agatha Raisin books, but I got bored and drifted to other things. However, this choice from #BookstaBritsBookClub may have persuaded me to try some more again, and for that I guess I have to thank Alexandra Benedict, author of The Christmas Jigsaw Murders.

I really enjoyed this, Edie is a feisty octogenarian who sets crossword puzzles and is famous amongst crossword puzzle solvers. She doesn't care what she says, or who she upsets as she goes along her merry way, trying to help (or hinder) the police solve the murders that are being committed, all of which look to be just one piece of a bigger jigsaw puzzle. 

There are thriller vibes woven through the book and despite the cosy mystery setting, there are some dark and heart-stopping moments included which I loved. I would definitely like to read some more of Alexandra's books, and I'm glad I read this just before Christmas.

There are some puzzles included within the pages, for the reader to solve, but I admit I didn't bother with these. I just wanted to get on and read!

About the Book

On 19th of December, renowned puzzle setter, loner and Christmas sceptic Edie O’Sullivan finds a hand-delivered present on her doorstep. Unwrapping it, she finds a jigsaw box and, inside, six jigsaw pieces. When fitted together, the pieces show part of a crime scene – blood-spattered black and white tiles and part of an outlined body. Included in the parcel is a message: ‘Four, maybe more, people will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.’ It’s signed, Rest In Pieces.

Edie contacts her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan, and together they work to solve the clues. But when a man is found near death with a jigsaw piece in his hand, Sean fears that Edie might be in danger and shuts her out of the investigation. As the body count rises, however, Edie knows that only she has the knowledge to put together the killer’s murderous puzzle.

Only by fitting all the pieces together will Edie be able to stop a killer – and finally lay her past to rest.

About Alexandra

Alexandra Benedict has been a composer, singer-songwriter, actor, and lecturer in crime fiction, and is now an award-winning writer of novels, short stories and scripts. As AK Benedict, she writes high-concept novels, speculative short stories and scripts. Her first novel, the critically-acclaimed THE BEAUTY OF MURDER, was nominated for the eDunnit Award; her short stories have featured in many anthologies; and her audio drama has been shortlisted for multiple awards including the BBC Audio Drama Award 2020, and, twice, for the Scribe Award, winning it in 2019. As Alexandra Benedict, she writes contemporary tributes and takes on Golden Age crime fiction. THE CHRISTMAS MURDER GAME was an Amazon Fiction Bestseller and was long-listed for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Her latest novel, MURDER ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS, arrives on November 10th. She lives on the south coast of England with her fiancé, writer Guy Adams, their daughter, and their dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford.

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My Review for The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine, read by Neet Mohan

This book grew on me the more I listened and as I got used to the narrator. I don't think it was intended as a cosy mystery, but I found it to be this, crossed with a thriller. It gave off cosy mystery vibes because all the murders take place in the small village of Kirkby Abbey, but a thriller as it's a Detective Inspector investigating, and not an amateur sleuth!

I had so many theories throughout this book, as to who the killer might be, and I didn't guess until the very end, which for me is always the sign of a great author, I was literally on tenterhooks, trying to work out who it might be and why they might be doing what they were doing. Aside from the murders and the investigative work surrounding that, Kirkby Abbey is a typical English country village, with nosey neighbours, a warm and welcoming village pub and a proper neighbourly feeling - well from most of the villagers anyway!

Thank you to Libro FM for the opportunity to listen to and review The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine.

About the Book

As the snow begins to fall, the body count begins to climb…

DI James Walker is ready for a quiet family Christmas in the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey.

But when he opens an early Christmas present left on his doorstep, he soon realises it is no gift. Inside is a gruesome surprise, and a promise – twelve days, twelve murders. Not long after, the first body is found, half frozen in the snow.

As the blizzards descend, panic spreads through the remote Cumbrian village – there’s a killer amongst them, and with eleven more victims to go, anyone could be next….

Can James stop the killer before they strike again?

About Alex

Alex Pine is the pseudonym of a bestselling author who has also written books under the names Jaime Raven, James Raven and JP Carter. He was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world - many of the stories he covered were crime-related. He then became a television producer and for a number of years was director of a major UK news division and co-owned a TV production company. He now splits his time between homes in Hampshire and Spain with his wife.

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My Review for Second Chances at the Board Game Cafe by Jennifer Page

I seem to be on a roll for books that I’m loving. Second Chances at the Board Game Cafe was so lovely and cute, from beginning to end. All the characters were brilliant and the author highlights how even the most unusual and let’s face it, what a lot of people would consider boring, hobbies, can be fun and engaging if you find like-minded people to enjoy them with. Harry is brilliant, he loves trains and board games and dull coloured clothes, but when he meets the right people, he is far from boring. Taylor has had some difficult times in her life but always has the best interests of her son at heart and picks herself up, time after time. Her son loves trains and board games too, so when the three of them find each other, it’s a proper little meet-cute.

I love the idea of a cafe where you can go and meet other people who enjoy the same things as you, and while away a few hours. As I was writing this review I googled whether board game cafes were an actual thing, and guess what? They actually are. There is even one about half an hour from me. I’ll probably never go. Nevertheless, I love the idea. 

If you like cute, funny, romance-type books, grab a copy of Jennifer's new book. It’s the third in the series, but I didn’t know this and it really doesn’t matter if you haven’t read the others.

Thank you to Aria and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Second Chances at the Board Game Cafe by Jennifer Page.

About the Book

The next warm and uplifting instalment in The Little Board Game Café series, perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Christie Barlow.

In the cosy Yorkshire village of Hebbleswick, single mum Taylor dreams of a fashion design career, but she spends her days fixing zips, hemming skirts and worrying about her son, Max.

At the local board game cafe, railway enthusiast Harry, still recovering from a painful breakup, dreams of fatherhood. When Taylor and Harry cross paths, sparks fly, but Harry's confidence issues and Taylor's concerns for Max threaten their budding romance.

Can they find a second chance at love where they least expect it?

About Jennifer

Jennifer Page wrote her first novel – a book about ponies – when she was eight. These days she prefers to write romance. When she isn't writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games which are the inspiration for her first novel. She has worked as a television producer, a music teacher and has even run a children's opera company. She now lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her husband and his large collection of games.

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My Review for At Witt's End by J.V. Caggiano

⭐⭐⭐ The main reason I chose to read this book was that we are about to move into a new house and it’s called ‘Witzend’! Not my usual criteria. I didn’t even read the synopsis! At Witt’s End is a cosy mystery, not my usual go-to genre, but actually, it was a pretty good story. 

Cerridwen is an author who is trying to hide away to finish her latest novel but is constantly being disturbed by friends and neighbours and, eventually, they have an actual murder to solve.

Think Agatha Christie, crossed with the Agatha Raisin series and you’ll get an idea of the sort of book you are reading. It took me a while to get to grips with the characters and it was a bit all over the place to begin with, taking a fair few chapters to settle into what was going on. However, I found myself drawn in, and eager to discover ‘whodunnit’. 

I loved the diverse range of characters and the humour that Caggiano so obviously has, and there is definitely talent there for further books.

The only reason I gave this 3 stars was because of the editing. After reading other reviews, this may be just the Kindle edition I was gifted, (I sincerely hope it wasn't published with this many errors), but it distracted me from the enjoyment of the story and as it was published over two years ago, a fully edited copy would have been appreciated. For full disclosure, if I am reading an ARC that is yet to be published, I don’t take the editing into account at all.

Despite this, though, the story is great and will keep you reading, and an easy book to while away a few hours.

Thank you to Katie and Brey PA for the gifted copy of At Witt's End by J.V. Caggiano.

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My Review for The Bookshop Murder by Merryn Allingham

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Bookshop Murder by Merryn Allingham.

Set in the 1950s, The Bookshop Murder is the first in a new series for Allingham, set in a sleepy Sussex, seaside village and featuring Flora Steele, a bookshop owner, along with her sidekick, Jack Carrington, an antisocial crime writer who seemingly only enjoys his own company. Jack discovers a dead body in Flora’s bookshop and, after the police write the death off as natural causes, they investigate the death together. Along the way, there appear to be many suspects, but Flora and Jack, with the natural inquisitiveness needed, set out to discover what really happened.

I found The Bookshop Murder fairly slow, to begin with, but to be honest, I find a lot of cosy mysteries begin this way and gradually become more fast-paced as we move through the story. I guess because of this; I wasn’t as invested quite as quickly as I usually like to be in a book. However, Flora and Jack bounced off each other and they are both great characters finding a way into my heart by the end. It will be interesting to see what happens between the two of them in future stories. 

There are a variety of other characters in the book who play their own part as the story progresses and I particularly wanted to visit Katie’s Nook and relax with coffee and cake! Merryn Allingham is adept at drawing readers into the lives of her characters and I could envisage myself in many of the situations which are described so well.

I would recommend The Bookshop Murder to anyone who enjoys a cosy mystery. If you’re an Agatha Christie fan or enjoy M.C. Beaton and her Agatha Raisin series, you will enjoy this.

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