Tag: Cozy Mystery

‘Love and Death’ is Meg Sheppard’s Most Personal Case Yet

‘Love and Death’ is the latest book in the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series. Photo: Paste Creative Book Tours, used with permission.

Paste Creative Book Tours Participant

“Love and Death” by Vicky Earle

Synopsis

A cheating racehorse trainer is dead, and someone close to Meg is under suspicion. As she digs for the truth, past gang members involved in a murder and a zealous animal rights group bring danger right to her doorstep.

When she is wounded by a gunshot, Meg becomes reluctant to continue the investigation. Does she have the resilience to face the escalating threats while also coping with the likelihood of a devastating personal loss?

Love and Death is Book 6 of 6 in the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series:

  1. What Happened to Frank?
  2. Over Frank’s Dead Body
  3. Pointed Attacks
  4. Playing with Fire
  5. Dying for Money
  6. Love and Death
Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Review

Love and Death opens with Meg receiving a troubling call from Neal, her racehorse trainer. Linda, a groom in Neal’s barn, is being questioned by police about her possible role in a hit-and-run that killed fellow trainer Barton Woking. Still reeling from an emotional fight with her partner, William, Meg begins her own search for the truth hoping it will clear Linda’s name and distract her from her personal turmoil.

When Meg learns that a valuable horse has been stolen, her curiosity pulls her deeper into a dangerous web of secrets, gang activity, and the fervor of a militant animal rights group. Each new lead puts her life further at risk.

Vicky Earle delivers a gripping mystery that blends the tension of the horse racing world with Meg’s emotional journey. It’s narrated in Meg’s first person point of view, so readers get deep insights into her thought processes as she tries to solve the case. Her vulnerability and determination make her a relatable, compelling sleuth. Earle’s steady pacing, vivid descriptions, and emotional depth enrich every twist:

“The water seeps through my fleece jacket and splashes over my running shoes as I dash to the truck.”

Earle’s storytelling captures the grit of crime and the grace of perseverance, proving that even in the darkest moments, love and courage endure. Even though it’s part of a series, it does well as a stand alone novel. For readers who crave mysteries with heart, danger, and emotional complexity, Love and Death offers a satisfying, suspense-filled ride. Animal lovers will certainly enjoy it.

“Everyone leaves at the same time, and it’s as if the air has been sucked out of the stark room… I close my eyes, but I won’t be able to sleep – there are too many thoughts and questions spinning in my head.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Get your copy today!
Amazon (USA)
Indigo (Canada)
Waterstones (UK)

About the Author

Vicky Earle, a recipient of a Canada Book Award, served as CEO of the Ontario SPCA for seven years. Her experiences owning and breeding thoroughbred race horses as well as her love for country life, inspired the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series, known for its fast-paced, action-packed plots set amid racing and rural living.

Animals have always been central to Vicky’s life, and she couldn’t imagine writing a book without them.

She currently lives on a small horse farm near Uxbridge, Ontario, with her husband.

Author Vicky Earle. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.

*Thank you to Paste Creative Book Tours and the author for my gifted copy for review as part of the tour. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

The Allure of Cozy Mysteries: Spotlight on ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman is now a Netflix movie. Photo: Barnes & Noble

The Charm of Cozy Mysteries

Cozy mystery books offer readers a delightful escape into charming worlds filled with intrigue but softened by warmth and comfort. Unlike darker crime novels, cozies balance suspense with lighthearted settings—small towns, bookshops, bakeries, or quaint villages—where everyday life continues even amid mystery.

Their appeal lies in clever puzzles, quirky characters, and the absence of graphic violence, allowing readers to enjoy the thrill of solving a crime without the heaviness. Often featuring amateur sleuths, cozy mysteries invite readers to feel part of the investigation. They’re the perfect blend of relaxation and mental challenge, making them irresistible comfort reads.

Spotlight: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

One of the most popular cozy mysteries in recent years is The Thursday Murder Club, the first installment in Richard Osman’s bestselling series.

Here’s the setup:

  • Four septuagenarians with a few tricks up their sleeves
  • A female cop tackling her first big case
  • A brutal murder
  • And a retirement village with secrets to spare

In a peaceful retirement community, four unlikely friends meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes. Together, they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club.

When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph beside the body, the group suddenly finds themselves facing their first live case. As the bodies begin to pile up, the unorthodox but brilliant gang must race to catch the killer—before it’s too late.

From Page to Screen

The Thursday Murder Club is now a Netflix film, directed by Chris Columbus with a screenplay by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote. The star-studded cast includes Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie.

The story follows four irrepressible retirees who spend their days solving cold cases for fun, only to stumble into a real whodunit. With its blend of humor, heart, and suspense, the adaptation brings the cozy mystery spirit to life on screen.

About the Author

Richard Osman is an author, producer, and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club was his debut novel, and it quickly became a New York Times bestseller.

Beyond writing, Osman is well known for his work on TV shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House of Games. As creative director of Endemol UK, he has worked on popular programs such as Deal or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also a regular face on panel shows like Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You, and Taskmaster.

✨ Cozy mysteries like The Thursday Murder Club prove that crime-solving can be clever, funny, and comforting all at once. If you’re looking for a mystery that keeps you guessing while wrapping you in charm, this series is the perfect place to start.

Jo and MacAdams Shine in Brandy Schillace’s Clever New Mystery

‘The Dead Come to Stay’ is the new murder mystery novel by Brandy Schillace. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: The Dead Come to Stay by Brandy Schillace

Part of Paste Creative Book Tours

An amateur autistic sleuth. A wry English detective. A murder case that thrusts them both into the wealthy world of the rare artifacts trade.

Book Synopsis

Following the death of her mother, Jo Jones leaves the big city for the quiet hills of North Yorkshire after inheriting her family’s estate, Ardemore. She’s hoping for a fresh start, but until her freelance editing career takes off, she needs another source of income.

The property includes the manor (in desperate need of work), a smaller attached cottage (slightly more livable), and expansive gardens. Jo decides to renovate the cottage’s attic and rent it out for extra money.

While exploring the estate, Jo uncovers traces of ancestors she never knew existed—including a mysterious woman in a half-destroyed painting—and suspects her late Uncle Aiden’s belongings may hold answers to her family’s cryptic history.

Her quiet plans change when local detective James MacAdams discovers a body in the nearby woods—one with unexpected ties to Jo. The investigation draws them into the wealthiest corners of Yorkshire: luxury hotels, elite country clubs, and opulent estates.

But beneath the surface lies a darker truth: local teens, many of them refugees, are disappearing, and the case seems linked to a shady architectural firm—one that also employed the murder victim. This path leads Jo and MacAdams deep into the dangerous world of rare artifacts and antique trading.

Review

Brandy Schillace’s The Dead Come to Stay is a clever, atmospheric mystery that pairs an unlikely duo—Jo, a brilliant amateur sleuth, and MacAdams, a dry-witted detective—in a gripping tale of murder, rare artifacts, and buried secrets.

The narrative unfolds through dual points of view (Jo and MacAdams) and they intersect during the murder investigation. Jo is a refreshing protagonist: insightful, observant, and neurodivergent in ways that give her a unique investigative edge. Her dynamic with MacAdams—built on subtle humor, mutual respect, and occasional exasperation—adds warmth to the suspense. Schillace skillfully balances character development with a tightly woven plot, making it easy to invest in both the mystery and the partnership.

Jo’s exploration of her family’s past adds emotional depth, while the artifact-trading subplot offers moral complexity and high stakes. The tension in the murder investigation escalates with every revelation, and just when you think you’ve reached the solution, another twist emerges. With language that is easy to understand and follow, the action flows seamlessly through the pages until the satisfactory ending.

The Dead Come to Stay is as intellectually sharp as it is entertaining. Rich with themes of identity, family, friendship, and justice, it’s a compelling choice for fans of unconventional detectives and smart, layered storytelling. It is recommended for fans of cozy mystery novels such as those by Agatha Christie, Richard Osman (The Thursday Murder Club), and Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen series).

Rating: 4 out of 5.

*Thank you to Stephanie Caruso from Paste Creative Book Tours for the gifted ARC. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Author Brandy Schillace. Photo: Brandy Schillace