cstardancer

Charmed again

Revisado: 05-03-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I am a fan of H.Y. Hanna's cozy series, and listening to them is my preferred format, because Pearl Hewitt voices them so well. As always, the charm of the setting is the primary attraction for me. English villages are a familiar setting in many cozies, for just that reason. If you are a homemaker and gardener, as I am, the fantasy setting of a cottage garden as the home and business of the protagonist, is a wonderful escape to favorite daydream haunts.

These books never skimp on the mystery plot, though. There are always a number of likely perpetrators and motives to follow. The logic is sound and the happenstance of clue discovery is believable in the context of characters and setting.

Finally, there is always a good dose of humor. Cat lovers will particularly enjoy the recurrent involvement of the mischievous neighbor cat, and the eccentric professor-inventor always provides funny interludes. This story in the ongoing series is light on romance, compared to the others, but perhaps I just feel that way because I would have liked more interaction between Poppy and the attractive author/ex-detective.

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Another delightful listen

Revisado: 06-28-20

I've read and listened to each of the books in this series as they've been released. I am a fan of English village mysteries, and this series is my current favorite of the cozy genre. Poppy is an appealing protagonist. She is young, and inexperienced, but she has good values, and she follows her ambition to restore the garden and nursery she inherited with hard work and a willingness to learn. I like that she doesn't think she is better or smarter than the police, in general. She trusts the intelligence and experience of others, and shares what she learns of potential evidence.

The murder plots in this series are plausible, relative to the genre. There are enough red herrings to keep me, as a reader, engaged in the plot. For me, however, the main attraction of the series is the setting, the humor, and the author's warmth toward the quirky, mainstay characters. All in all, another delightful escape.

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Whodunit Christmas Confection

Revisado: 01-13-20

The tenth book in the Oxford Tearoom series has everything I'm looking for in a cozy mystery: good plotting, credible motives, engaging setting, humor and romance. This book has a bonus feature of also being a Christmas murder mystery ... my favorite seasonal genre. As usual, Pearl Hewitt does a good job with the marration. Having a Christmas whodunit to listen to while I cooked and decorated for Christmas was an added pleasure.

As a fan of H.Y. Hanna's books, I've become very familiar with the repeat characters, and I've come to expect the antics of the characters called the Old Biddies. The funniest scene of this book, though, is a debacle wrought by incidental characters and is very reminiscent of National Lampoon Christmas Vacation.

The heroine, Gemma Rose, was more reluctant in her role of amateur sleuth, which I appreciated. There wasn't the customary implication of police incompetence and absurd motive for interference. In fact, when the methods of the police were discussed, it was obvious they'd pursued a thorough investigation. Gemma was successful in ultimately identifying the murderer through a combination of happenstance encounters and her excellent memory and observational skills. I found this very satisfying, as the plot didn't strain credulity. As usual in Hanna's mysteries, there were ample red herrings, also built on logical plot lines.

All told, The Mousse Wonderful Time of the Year is a very pleasurable cozy mystery.

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.

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A story of wit and imagination

Revisado: 11-21-19

I have listened to the entire series of the Bewitched by Chocolate books, and this one is one of my favorites. Although it is primarily a cozy mystery with humor and whimsical magic, there was a timeliness to the plot line that appealed to my sense of justice. It dealt with the dynamics of bigotry and fear of what is perceived as "other" and the idea of witch hunters as people who spread superstition and provoke persecution. In our current time, where we see fear and hatred on the rise, it's a reminder of an earlier brand of bigotry and ignorance.

Double, Double, Toil and Truffle has some funny scenes that I look forward to in a book by H.Y. Hanna. There are also a couple of subplot story lines that promise to become more evolved and interesting in books to come. Together the characters, plot and humor work for me to make for a very enjoyable read.

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esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

A Cozy English murder

Revisado: 10-11-19

Doom and Bloom is the 3rd book in this delightful cozy series. These books offer a fantasy escape to a small village setting with numerous quirky characters. Poppy is a young, somewhat naive protagonist gradually learning to make a more satisfying and independent life in the lovely cottage and garden she has inherited.
I enjoy Hanna's books when I want to forget the stress of my own life. She provides plenty of viable suspects, and a sufficiently plausible, gradual revelation of clues. Humorous scenes are interspersed throughout, although I do find that sometimes they have a somewhat ageist element that annoys me. She does, however, set a good murder mystery puzzle, and that's the ultimate satisfaction.

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.

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Loved it

Revisado: 09-17-19

Graham Norton writes with nuance, wit, and compassionate observation of relationships. I very much enjoyed his first novel, Holding, and this one did not disappoint me. I found myself listening late into the night ....an ambiance which particularly suited this quiet story of discovery. The narration by the author is perfect.

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Delightful diversion

Revisado: 08-24-19

I've been following the English Cottage Garden Mysteries series from the first. This is the second book in the series, and it does not disappoint.
I've been a particular fan of small town cozies since I was a girl. Now that I'm a senior, who craves a relaxing respite from the stressful and demanding life of adulthood, they've become a favorite choice. H.Y. Hanna's books are always a pleasure. This series, with its humor, engaging plot, and plucky young heroine, kept me entertained. The strong points are the charming setting, recurrent likable characters, the possibility of a future romance, and plenty of fun and wit, as promised by the punny title.
The story expands on characters from the first, but gives enough description and background that it could be enjoyed as a standalone.

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English cozy comfort

Revisado: 08-02-19

I was an instant fan of this new series, since I like the author, a traditional English countryside cozy setting, and Pearl Hewitt does a good narration. It is uplifting escapism for me; something I crave in these stressful times. There is a well-plotted murder, plausible red herrings, likable characters, and clues that aren't too obvious to spoil the mystery. I was charmed by the description of a tangled cottage garden awaiting an attentive hand. The series promises future enjoyment and perhaps new revelations. There are subplots that tempt me to continue the series: a possible romance, questions about hidden past relationships, mysterious pasts, plus Hanna's usual deft hand with pet companions and occasional humor. I'm eager for more.

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Never fails

Revisado: 07-06-19

The Chet & Bernie stories never fail to make me feel better about life. The dog's viewpoint on life is, of course, the key to their appeal, but the strong moral code embodied in the detective, Bernie, is an equally uplifting component. The narrator, Jim Frangione, gives perfect voicing to the characters, both human and animal. I think I'd probably enjoy the books even if the plotting was mediocre, because I so enjoy Chet, but the mystery is complex and satisfying on its own. Now, I start hoping Spencer Quinn will write another.

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Delightful

Revisado: 05-25-19

I had read the book when it first came out, so I didn't realize how much more I would enjoy listening to the audiobook. I had forgotten many details, so in many instances the story was fresh to me. The delightful surprise was the realization of how many scenes were very funny! As the mystery plot unfolds, one of the characters involved in many crucial events is our heroine's vampire Uncle Viktor, who is a delight.

The plot has numerous red herrings, magic, mystery, danger and a tantalizing advance of the so-far only tempting romance. There is a climactic scene of peril and excitement, and a cliffhanger that follows a satisfying resolution of the book's central mystery. All in all, a very satisfying listen for a fan of the cozy-mystery-supernatural-romance genre.

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