Bran New Death by Victoria Hamilton: Tuesday Intro

"As a metaphor for my life, the crossroads rocked. I sat in my rented Chevy, glaring at the GPS screen, then got out of the vehicle and looked around. On one side of me was an evergreen forest, into which one road descended, and on the other was a rocky prominence, the highway cutting through it like a kebab skewer through shish."

Bran New Death by Victoria Hamilton 

This first "Merry Muffin Mystery" had me hooked enough to share on First Chapter, First Paragraph hosted every Tuesday by Diane at Bibliophile By The Sea.

I liked that the protagonist was at a crossroads in her life, felt lost in many ways, but kept her humor. I'm currently on page 70 and hope to finish within the week. This cozy has an authentic feel. The village could have been romanticized but is not; similar to the Lois Meade mysteries by Ann Pursur.

I made a batch of pumpkin muffins over the weekend after being inspired by this mystery. To cut fat, I replaced butter with starfruit and they turned out great. Maybe I'll share later. Starfruit grows plentiful here in Hawaii and is often at our local farmer's markets.

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Poisoned Prose By Ellery Adams: Book Review

Words create karmic backlash in Poisoned Prose. A secret location to a hidden treasure, and hidden pain that finally surfaces, create the right mix for murder in this cozy mystery by the sea. 

Overview: The Bayside Book Writer's group at Oyster Bay has more than manuscripts to discuss. A renowned storyteller, Violetta Duvereaux, visits this charming beach community and leaves (most) townsfolk mesmerized by her performance. Woven into her words are clues to a hidden family treasure which seems highly implausible considering that she grew up poor in Appalachia. Violetta sees someone in the audience that night from her past and soon takes her last breath after the final curtain call. Leave it to socialite Olivia Limoges to sort everything out (including hidden secrets) with her studly boyfriend Chief Rawlings.

Who has secrets hidden? What is the hidden treasure? Read the latest installment in this ongoing mystery series by Ellery Adams for the answers.

Review: The plot reminded me of the stories from childhood with hidden treasure, secret panels and engaging mysteries to solve. It was a journey that I didn't want to see end. Good news, there are more adventures coming from the townsfolk of Oyster Bay! Olivia is a beautiful lady with class and intelligence. This was my first time meeting her and the other characters in Ellery Adams' Books By The Bay series. It won't be the last either. Ellery made it easy for me to catch up with them and not feel that I missed something by not starting with the first book. New fan alert: I may read some of the earlier books to get to know the characters better.

Favorite Character: Chief Rawlings. A cool guy who can be tough and also sensitive. What's not to like about a man who "has a penchant for dressing in Hawaiian shirts."

Highlight: Each chapter begins with a literary quote to match the content of the chapter. A nice touch and one not easy to maneuver I'm sure.

Mystery Rating: 10 Candy Corns.

I had no idea where to find the truth which kept things interesting. There was suspense at the end so well written that I felt I was right there with the characters. One part of the ending surprised me. It was a decision that Olivia made about one of the suspects. No spoiler alert so I won't say more. Let me know in your comments if you think that Olivia made the right decision.

Win my copy of Poisoned Prose in exchange for 1 credit on Paperback Swap. Leave a comment that you would like my gently used copy on PBS. I'll draw a name in November. Winner must buddy me on Paperback Swap and exchange a credit for the book. If you're not on Paperback Swap, join today and start sharing books.

Poisoned Prose by Ellery Adams. The Berkley Publishing Group, 2013. ISBN: 9780425262955