Book Review: A Smoking Bun

Title: A Smoking Bun

Author: Ellie Alexander

Genre: Cozy mystery, mystery, fiction 

This was a quick and exciting read! Jules Capshaw owns a bakery in a small town. When her stepson’s parents come to visit from Spain, she takes time off to play hostess and get to know the family. However during a winter event on the mountain, someone is killed. At first it seems like a tragic accident, but soon it becomes clear that the person was murdered! 

Jules finds herself working on the case, but will she find the killer before they find her?

I really enjoyed this book. I hadn’t read other books in this series, so at first it was hard to figure out who some of the people were. However, the plot moved quickly and had a lot of twists to keep me guessing until the very end! I plan to read more of this series as the characters were likable and well-developed. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book!

Book Review: Ill-Fated Fortune

 

Title: Ill-Fated Fortune

Author: Jennifer J. Chow

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Magical Realism, Fiction

This is the first in a new series by Jennifer Chow. Felicity Jin and her mother work together in the family bakery. The secret ingredient that keeps customers coming back for more - magic. Felicity, who goes by Lissa to her friends, has been waiting for the day that she too has the magic inside her. When she begins to make fortune cookies, she realizes she has the ability to predict the future as she creates customized fortunes for her customers.

However, one of her first fortunes predicts death. A customer is found dead near the bakery, still clutching the paper with the promise of his demise. Lissa becomes the number one suspect when a detective from the larger city near by gets involved.

Lissa realizes she needs to solve this case as the stress of the murder begins to affect her life, and the bakery’s business. With the help of her best friend, Kelvin, she uses her detective skills, and a little magic, to find the real killer.

This is a sweet cozy mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end.

Thanks to Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.