#M.C. Beaton

[tudorblogger]

Monthly Reading Summary – September 2024

[e-b-reads]

Books of the Summer: May-Aug 2024

I'm back baby! These little blurbs at the top are usually where I put my disclaimer that these books are the ones I recommend, but not necessarily my favorites, and that particularly holds true for this summer when I consider a few that didn't make my list below: I read 20-something(!!) of the Hamish Macbeth mystery series, by M.C. Beaton, over June and July, and obviously I liked them because I just. kept going, but I also have several quibbles with them (e.g., twenty books and several years into the series, the main character is still "about 35"). I enjoyed them as something mostly brainless. Then in August, I read and very much enjoyed the Windrose Chronicles, by Barbara Hambly, a particular type of 80s portal fantasy, but in this case although my enjoyment was unalloyed, I feel like they're a rec for very specific circumstances or specific people. Anyway, thought both these series deserved some sort of honorable mention, but my official Books of the Summer are:

May

Giovanni's Room (James Baldwin): This is one of those tragedies where no one could have done anything different because of who they are as people, but even as you know what will happen from the beginning of the book, it's still worth reading to understand how. Also Baldwin is so good at writing. Not a happy book, but worth it.

June

Last Call at the Nightingale (Katharine Schellman): I'm recommending this one because it seems like I've seen (at least a few) people on the lookout for a good mystery set in the 1920s that is (queer) female-centric and not entirely trusting of cops, and this is definitely that. (Also the other book I saw being recced for that kind of thing was Dead Dead Girls, and I read it a little while ago and tbh was unimpressed with the writing.) I also read a few in another series by Schellman this summer, and I generally enjoy her mystery plots and attention to historical detail, while she also always makes sure she has a diverse cast of characters.

The Bellamy Trial (Frances Noyes Hart): A classic mystery (as in, published during the Golden Age), interesting in its trial formatting - the murder has happened, we're hearing everything in the courtroom sort of from the point of view of a pair of newspaper reporters. It's fun the way details are revealed.

July

The Ropemaker (Peter Dickinson): Did you know that Peter Dickinson was married to Robin McKinley? True power couple. I love The Ropemaker, I think I originally found my copy in a used book store with absolutely nothing to go on but the cover (it was years ago), and have read it several times. I particularly like that the main character doesn't have magic (and magic isn't entirely common in the fantasy world, though several other characters can do it), and she starts out feeling reasonably upset and left out, and then starts to realize that her own lack of magic is a particular, specific strength.

August

The Documents in the Case (Dorothy L. Sayers with Robert Eustace): I think I found this book by poking around the "Mysteries" section in a used book store, which is always a good way to find odd anthologies and Detection Club collections. This standalone mystery is, as it suggests, a collection of documents (mostly letters) meant to illuminate a mystery: handily, the son of the murdered man is collecting them and writes a little bit of analysis for us/the official to whom he is sending them, so we eventually get gaps in the story filled in. I particularly like the way that the nature of the medium means that every character is an unreliable narrator to some extent, and it takes a little reading before you can start to figure out who to trust more. I have read this a few times and always forget that it is kind of a chilling little story, in the end, but also really good!

[weirdesplinder]

Cosa c'è di più adatto, visto che si avvicina il cenone di capodanno, di una lista di romance con protagonisti chef, cuochi e pasticceri?

- Tentazioni deliziose, di Sherry Thomas

Link: https://amzn.to/3TqeLyD

Trama: Famosa a Parigi per i suoi piatti indimenticabili, Verity Durant è altrettanto impopolare a Londra per la sua scandalosa vita privata. Ma questa è l’ultima delle sorprese che attendono il suo nuovo datore di lavoro... Per Stuart Somerset – astro nascente della politica londinese –, l’affascinante Verity non è altro che una donna come tante, esattamente come il cibo è nient’altro che cibo, almeno finché non assaggia uno dei suoi piatti. C’è stata solo un’occasione in cui ha provato una sensazione così dirompente: la notte in ci ha incontrato una splendida sconosciuta che gli ha lasciato solo il ricordo di un’incredibile passione, per poi sfumare nel nulla. Da allora sono passati dieci anni, e quando Stuart incontra Verity, capisce che c’è solo una cosa che potrà finalmente saziare il suo appetito. Si tratterà solo di desiderio, di sete di vendetta, o anche del più delicato dei sentimenti? Il passato di Verity cela segreti che potrebbero separarli per sempre, proprio mentre loro cercano di assaporare il frutto delizioso dell’amore.

- Il segreto di un gentiluomo, di Laura Lee Guhrke​

Link: https://amzn.to/3tfNtjL

Trama: Coronando il sogno di una vita, Maria Martingale vuole aprire a Mayfair una pasticceria con elegante sala da tè annessa. Tutto sembra filare liscio, ma l'altezzoso Phillip Hawthorne, marchese di Kayne, che abita lì accanto, cerca di metterle i bastoni fra le ruote. Così come aveva fatto dodici anni prima, impedendo che il proprio fratello minore avesse una storia d'amore con lei, figlia di un cuoco. Ora Phillip teme che la giovane cerchi di mandare a monte il matrimonio del fratello con una ricca ereditiera americana. Però le cose non stanno affatto come sembrano, e Maria non è più disposta a subire le interferenze di quell'uomo. Al quale, peraltro, sente di non essere affatto indifferente.

- Cannella e polvere da sparo, di Eli Brown

Link: https://amzn.to/3tiD0nD

Trama: Owen Wedgwood è un bravissimo cuoco, che lavora per il ricchissimo e potentissimo Lord Ramsey. Un giorno, siamo nel 1819, fa irruzione nel palazzo una banda di pirati, comandati dalla rossa Hannah Mabbot, che uccide Ramsey e tutti i suoi ospiti e rapisce il cuoco Wedgwood. Hannah, che tutti ritengono pazza e che proprio per questo ha un enorme ascendente sui suoi uomini, poche ore dopo gli propone/impone il patto: ogni domenica preparerà per lei un pranzo delizioso, in cambio resterà vivo. Owen accetta e resta quindi a bordo della Flying Rose. Accanto a lui, lo sguattero Joshua, a cui insegna a leggere e a scrivere, il gigantesco Apples, comandante in seconda e due gemelli cinesi. Mentre lotta per ricavare qualcosa di speciale dai miseri ingredienti della dispensa e dal pesce casualmente pescato dai marinai, Wedgwood impara che Hannah non è solo una spietata piratessa, capace di far divorare vivo un traditore dai gabbiani, ma una vittima dell'ipocrisia: è infatti rimasta orfana da bambina, a dieci anni è finita in un bordello, è fuggita per fare la ladra, è stata catturata e "salvata" da Ramsey, che l'ha utilizzata come concubina e le ha fatto fare un figlio. Hannah è dunque un'anticolonialista ante litteram, impegnata nella lotta contro i mercanti di oppio e di schiavi...

INEDITI IN ITALIANO:

- A Taste of Honey, di Rose Lerner

Link: https://amzn.to/4asLU2v

Trama:  Robert Moon ha rischiato tutto, compresa l'eredità conquistata a fatica da suo padre, per aprire la sua amata pasticceria Honey Moon nella strada più trafficata di Lively St. Lemeston. Ora rischia la bancarotta e la prigione per debitori. Quando arriva un grosso ordine di catering, accetta di chiudere la pasticceria per una settimana per soddisfarlo. C'è solo un problema: il suo apprendista è fuori città, quindi la sua bellissima commessa Betsy Piper deve aiutare Robert in cucina. Betsy ha trascorso l'ultimo anno cercando di convincere il suo determinato capo ad alzare lo sguardo dai suoi pasticcini e a notare che lei sarebbe una moglie perfetta. Ora i due sono soli in una cucina piena di dolci. Con solo una settimana per farlo innamorare di lei, sarebbe meglio che iniziasse questa seduzione...

- At the Sign of the Golden Pineapple, di Marion Chesney (alias M.C. Beaton)

Link: https://amzn.to/3H6N72l

Trama: Gli amici più intimi della signorina Henrietta Bascombe rimangono sconvolti nel sentire che una signora bene educata come lei intende entrare nel commercio. Ma Henrietta è determinata a trasformare la sua miseria eredità in una fortuna aprendo un negozio di dolciumi a Londra per rivaleggiare con il famoso Gunther! E sembra riuscirci quando l'intero ton sembra accorrere al suo negozio diventato subito di moda. Ma poi a metterle i bastoni tra le ruote arriva l'orgoglioso conte di Carrisdowne che non vuole che suo fratello minore e il suo migliore amico passino i pomeriggi a osservare le commesse carine dietro il bancone di Bascombe.

- Miss Delectable, di Grace Burrowes

Link: https://amzn.to/3RuPT6c

Trama: La signorina Ann Pearson ha passato anni ad apprendere la difficile arte della cuoca professionista e a proteggere gelosamente la sua posizione nella cucina dell'elegante Coventry Club. Quando il colonnello Sir Orion Goddard le chiede di assumere un giovane apprendista, Ann preferisce rifiutare. Ma Orion è rispettoso, burbero e affascinante e si prende cura di una ragazza che gli altri hanno trascurato, e questa è una combinazione a cui Ann non può resistere.

- A Taste for Love, di Donna Bell

Link: https://amzn.to/3NKJAdu

Trama: Dopo essersi diplomata alla Fannie Farmer's School of Cookery nel 1910, Charlotte Gregory è pronta a dare una svolta alla sua vita. È entusiasta di avere l'opportunità di viaggiare, tenere conferenze e dare dimostrazioni di cucina sull'ultima rivoluzione culinaria: i fornelli a gas, e di certo non le importa che la compagnia del gas abbia assunto il bel Lewis Mathis per esibirsi alle sue lezioni. Lewis incoraggia il suo lavoro, in particolare la sua crociata per introdurre cibo fresco, appetitoso e nutriente per coloro che sono in convalescenza negli ospedali. Ma il giovane sovrintendente dell'ospedale, il dottor Joel Brooks, non è convinto che si debbano apportare dei cambiamenti. Quando Charlotte e Joel saranno costretti a organizzare un gala per la raccolta fondi per l'ospedale, questa coppia infiammabile esploderà?

 L'irreprensibile Biddy Leigh, sottocuoca nella severa Mawton Hall, non vede l'ora di sistemarsi con il suo innamorato e di aprire la sua taverna. Ma quando il suo anziano padrone sposa la giovane ed enigmatica Lady Carinna, Biddy viene involontariamente trascinata in un mondo di intrighi, segreti e bugie. Costretta ad accompagnare la sua nuova padrona in Italia, Biddy porta con sé un vecchio libro di ricette di casa, The Cook's Jewel, in cui registra le sue osservazioni. Quando si ritrova coinvolta in una cospirazione omicida, Biddy si rende conto che i segreti che custodisce potrebbero essere la chiave per la sua sopravvivenza... o per la sua rovina.

#lauraleeguhrke #romance #listadilibri

[bargainsleuthbooks]

Killing Time (Agatha Raisin #35) by M.C. Beaton & R.W. Wood #AudioBookReview #BlackstoneAudio #ARCReview #CozyMystery

Agatha Raisin is back and ready to solve a handful of mysteries, including a 400-year-old one. This is a delightful cozy mystery series that I enjoy so much! #BookReview #NetGalley #KillingTime #AgathaRaisin #BlackstoneAudio #Bookblogger #AudiobookReview

It’s time for another book review from my never-ending TBR list. I was lucky enough to get an audiobook of the latest Agatha Raisin book. Most books mentioned in my reviews can be found at the affiliate links below. (Amazon US) (Kindle Unlimited) (Amazon CA) (Amazon UK)  (AbeBooks) (Barnes & Noble) (Booksamillion)  (Audible.com) (Audiobooks.com) Want to help some of my local indie bookstores?…

[mychameleondays]

[capitainerowen]

Agatha Raisin enquête, tome 22,5 : Le Noël d'Agatha - M.C. Beaton

Lecture finie le 24 janvier 2024 (9/36)

Je suis passé à un objectif de 36 livres pour cette année afin d'avoir un même nombre de livres à lire par mois

Ma 9ème lecture de cette année est une nouvelle de l'auteur M.C. Beaton, le 22,5ème roman de la saga Agatha Raisin qui m'a été proposé en eBook gratuit et m'a intrigué.

Résumé : Pour les fêtes, Agatha Raisin décide d'accueillir 6 vieux de son village sans famille à un repas, mais coup de théâtre, l'un d'entre eux meurt à sa table, et Agatha est la suspecte numéro 1 !

CW/TW: harcèlement sexuel, agression sexuelle, morts, violence physique, menace de mort

Alors! J'avais vaguement entendu parler des histoires d'Agatha Raisin, sans me rappeler comment ni d'où, alors quand j'ai vu ce tome-ci, je me suis dit que ce serait une occasion intéressante de découvrir ce personnage ! Mais bon, je l'ai détestée, elle, les autres personnages, le rythme, les enquêtes et leur "résolution", l'absence de morale et de logique... Bref, je n'ai rien aimé :/ après, c'est une nouvelle, peut-être que l'auteur s'en sort mieux dans le format roman! Et je ne connais pas du tout le personnage d'Agatha Raisin en dehors de ça, peut-être que c'est la moins bonne œuvre de la série, mais je n'ai aucune envie de découvrir le reste... En tout cas, pas maintenant.

Alors je ne peux pas conseiller cette nouvelle, surtout par rapport aux TW (les deux premiers surtout).

Mes lectures de 2024! ✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧

Quelque chose que j'ai très fort envie de faire pour la nouvelle année, c'est répertorier toutes mes lectures que je ferai cette année (romans, BDs, etc...)! Rien qu'aujourd'hui, j'ai pu lire deux petites BDs et finir un tout petit roman (je n'aurai pas tout le temps ce rythme) mais il est tard, ahah, alors je pense que j'en parlerai demain, parce que ça me permettra de faire tout ça correctement, eheh

Je ne sais pas trop comment parler de mes lectures pour l'année à venir alors si vous avez un conseil, je prends, mais je vais au moins faire mes présentations comme ceci:

Nom du livre et de l'auteurice

Photo du livre

Résumé du livre avec mes mots à moi

Prévention sur les CW/TW potentiels qui m'ont marqué, et si le livre prend la peine de nous prévenir pour ça

Commentaire personnel sur le livre et à quel point je l'ai aimé ou non, et si je le recommande ou non

Aussi! Je me suis mis pour objectif de lire 35 livres cette année, donc un rythme de 2-3 livres par mois alors voyons si j'y arrive!

Et puis, si vous voulez me conseiller un livre, faites donc mais je ne confirme en rien de si/quand je vais l'acheter et de quand je le lirai, ahah :'))

J'espère que je pourrai réussir à vous intéresser avec ma future liste, et peut-être même que je vous donnerai envie de découvrir certains d'entre eux!

(je ne crois pas avoir le savoir infini, bien sûr, et ce n'est pas parce que j'ai un avis sur un livre qu'il est universel, vous pouvez ne pas être d'accord, bien sûr)

[paexie]

Hey sorry can I ask what erotic romance schlock u like? need more recs! Particularly looking for audiobook recs. not schlock but I love m.c. beaton romance novels if you're into regency! Sorry i'm being a coward and staying anon Love your works! have a great one!

You are ok, anon! My asks are open for anything.

Listen, you are talking to a garbage eater. A real "all tropes no brains" seeker. What I call popcorn books. Tasty and easily consumable, but not nutritious.

Contemporary M/M romance - Roommate by Sarina Bowen is a sweet story of two dudes trying to get by. It's what every good bakery AU is. This one is double narrated, but not difficult to follow.

Sci-fi M/F romance - Choosing Theo by Victoria Aveline is the first in series that has a surprising amount of decent world building. I'm a sucker for a brooding x sunshine relationship dynamic.

Contemporary M/M romance - Say You'll Be Nine by Lucy Lennox. Big quiet man and chatty man fake a relationship for sponsorship money. It's heartfelt and cute. A rare demi/greysexual mention. It's hard to not love Nine. Would re-listen any time.

I've listened to many but these are the ones I would go back to.

[zippocreed501]

AUTHOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

'I never wanted to be a literary writer. I wanted to be an entertainer. All I wanted was to give what a lot of writers had given me: a good time on a bad day.'

'A library is a palace of dreams.'

'ou need to love books to write them, and how I loved all the storytellers from Muriel Spark to J.R.R. Tolkien.'

'I crawl out of bed at nine o’clock – well, maybe ten – and write for two hours fortified with a cup of black coffee.'

'All I ever wanted to do was be an entertainer. And write something for a wet day, or to give to a friend who was having a hard time.'

Author Extraordinaire Marion Chesney/M.C. Beaton

[pastlivesandpurplepuppets]

Agatha went out into the garden. The air was fresh and scented with autumn flowers. She took a deep breath, thinking how good country air was for her health, and then lit a cigarette.

~ M.C. Beaton

[bruitdefond]

'Agatha reflected that the older she got, the shorter got the summers and darker the winters.' Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death. M.C. Beaton.

[tudorblogger]

Monthly Reading Summary – July 2024

[2013trait]

Tysm for tagging me @scuumbag05

݁˖ . ݁˚ʚ ᴛᴀɢ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ɞ˚. ݁₊ ݁

𝜗𝜚 ʟᴀsᴛ sᴏɴɢ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ: Bad Romance

𝜗𝜚 ғᴀᴠᴏᴜʀɪᴛᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ(s):

My local thrift stores, not talking value village but the few charity ones near me are so comfy and cozy and I always have so much fun there, also literally any art gallery or museum.

𝜗𝜚 ғᴀᴠᴏᴜʀɪᴛᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ(s):

Simon VS the homosapien agenda, The hunger games trilogy and anything by M.C Beaton (more specifically her Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series)

𝜗𝜚 ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ:

Nothing at the moment but I’ve been foaming at the mouth cause I wanna give some dark romance books a try, I’ve read enough smut in my day so I don’t think they’ll offend me lol

𝜗𝜚 ғᴀᴠᴏᴜʀɪᴛᴇ ᴛᴠ sʜᴏᴡ(s):

The walking dead, big mouth, Glee, Queer Eye, Gravity Falls, Young Sheldon (I knowww but the story is surprisingly sweet)

𝜗𝜚 ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ғᴏᴏᴅ:

Sushi, any form of pasta, there’s this roti place not far from me that does these things called doubles and omg they’re so good, I also really like breakfast wraps.

Honestly idk who to tag so use me as a free tag if you wanna do this!

[preparfa-2024-dongninh]

66) Décembre 2023 - Exercice de clair obscur + storyboard tiré d'un extrait de "Agatha Raisin, Remède de Cheval" de M.C Beaton

Fusain sur Procreate

[dollycas]

A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery) by Mona Marple It is my pleasure to welcome Mona Marple to Escape With Dollycas today! Why I Write Cozy Mysteries (and Always Will) By Mona Marple Every now and then, someone asks me a question that seems simple on the surface but always makes me pause before answering: “Why do you write cozy mysteries?” Not just mysteries. Not thrillers, or legal dramas, or gritty detective fiction. Cozy mysteries—with the quirky characters, small villages, amateur sleuths, and the comforting promise that no matter how chaotic things get, justice (and tea) will be served in the end. So why cozies? The short answer is: because they feel like home. But if you’ll settle in with a cuppa, I’ll give you the long answer too. Chapter One: Mum’s Lap and Murder She Wrote I grew up in a house filled with stories. Not the kind that cost a fortune or lived behind locked glass cabinets, but the kind you found stacked beside the bed, dog-eared and well-loved. My mum was a reader—the reader, really. Our living room was home to a tower of paperbacks that wobbled like they might collapse in a plot twist at any moment. And her favourites? Always the mysteries. Agatha Christie. M.C. Beaton. Patricia Wentworth. The queens of clever puzzles and quiet detectives. Mum had a particular fondness for Miss Marple, and I can remember sitting beside her on the sofa, both of us watching Murder, She Wrote, transfixed. There was something magical about Jessica Fletcher, wasn’t there? All those suspects gathered in the drawing room. The final reveal. The way she always noticed what everyone else missed—not through force or power, but through observation, empathy, and quiet confidence. It didn’t matter that I didn’t understand all the clues at that age. What mattered was the rhythm. The cozy cadence of a mystery gently unravelling. Chapter Two: The Lawyer Who Loved Puzzles Before I was an author, I was (and still am) a lawyer. Now, when you picture a lawyer’s life, you might not immediately think of cozy mysteries. But here’s a secret: the two worlds aren’t as far apart as they seem. Law is, at its core, about people and puzzles. It’s about asking questions, following trails, spotting inconsistencies, and putting the pieces together. It’s about looking beyond the obvious and saying, “What’s really going on here?” Sound familiar? That’s exactly what a cozy mystery sleuth does. Whether it’s a retired librarian, a cake shop owner, or a bookshop manager with a Swiss Mountain Dog sidekick (hi, Bracken), the job is the same: notice what others don’t. Dig a little deeper. Solve the puzzle. So yes, my lawyer brain adores a twisty plot. I love a red herring. I love crafting a cast of characters where everyone has a motive—and then figuring out which motive matters most. But I also love the fact that in cozy mysteries, it’s not just about the crime. It’s about the community. Chapter Three: A Dash of Whimsy Life, as we all know, can be serious. Some days it’s heavy. Complicated. Messy in ways that don’t always get resolved within the space of a neatly wrapped-up chapter. And that’s exactly why I write what I do. Cozy mysteries offer us something rare: a safe place to explore danger. A gentle way to look at justice. A world where, yes, something bad happens—but the focus is on making it right. In my books, you’ll find clues and suspects and shocking reveals—but you’ll also find seaside walks, village fêtes, warm kitchens, and the occasional magical reindeer. Because I believe we all need stories that comfort as well as entertain. That remind us that, even when things go wrong, they can still be put right. There’s whimsy in a cozy mystery. A sparkle. A wink. The sense that, just maybe, the world isn’t quite as ordinary as it looks. And I think we need that now more than ever. Chapter Four: Building My Own Cozy World When I began writing my first cozy mystery, I had no idea it would turn into a career. I just knew I wanted to create something that felt like home. Like the stories I grew up with. Like the ones I still reach for when I want comfort, clarity, or just a good old-fashioned whodunit. Since then, I’ve written about magical towns that celebrate Christmas all year round. About Yorkshire villages with more secrets than sea air. About women rediscovering their strength and finding themselves as they follow a trail of breadcrumbs to the truth. Every time I sit down to write a new book, I feel grateful. Grateful that I get to do this. Grateful that readers invite my characters into their lives. And grateful that the world of cozy mysteries is big enough for all of us—for the readers, the dreamers, and the accidental sleuths. Final Chapter: Why I’ll Keep Writing Cozy Mysteries So, why cozy mysteries? Because of my mum and the books on her nightstand. Because of my legal training and the love of a good puzzle. Because of Murder, She Wrote, and the way a bicycle basket full of letters could contain the key to everything. Because life can be hard, but stories can be soft. Because sometimes the best way to deal with the dark is to light a lantern—and invite readers in for a slice of lemon drizzle and a mystery to solve. And because, deep down, I believe that a good story can change a bad day. That kindness and cleverness can go hand in hand. And that even the smallest village can contain the biggest surprises. Cozy mysteries remind us of all that. And that’s why I’ll always write them. With warmth, whimsy, and a notebook full of clues, Mona Thank you, Mona, for visiting today! ____ Keep reading for more information about Mona and her new book! About A Whale of a Crime  A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery) Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - FLAMBOROUGH, YORKSHIRE COAST, ENGLAND Independently Published (April 30, 2025) Print length ‏ : �� 254 pages Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DTZ3KGWP After ten years away, Ryan Kennedy never planned on returning to Flamborough—the tiny Yorkshire village he once called home. But when his fiercely independent gran, Iris, needs him, he finds himself back behind the counter at her chaotic seaside bookshop, wrestling with jammed tills, nosy villagers, and the memories he’s spent years trying to forget. What Ryan doesn’t expect is to be swept straight into the heart of a murder investigation. When a mysterious boat appears on the beach and a body turns up at the exclusive Whale Watch Weekend picnic, all eyes turn to the cliffs—and to the secrets the village has been keeping. As Ryan and Iris dig into the tangled history of the victim, long-buried truths begin to surface, not just about the case... but about the night Ryan’s own husband died. With the tide cutting them off, a killer on the loose, and a very observant dog named Bracken by their side, Ryan and Iris must work fast—because in Flamborough, the past doesn’t stay buried, and the sea has a habit of washing everything to shore. For fans of twisty village whodunits, seaside charm, and heartfelt mysteries with a slow-burning emotional pull, A Whale of a Crime is the unforgettable first instalment in a brand-new series. Excerpt  “He hadn't expected it to feel like this—like being punched in the gut and wrapped in a warm blanket all at once.” “Welcome home, little brother.” “Because I very much doubt Vic decided to bash his own head in with a decorative whale.” “You could dress a Flamborough lad in all the fancy clothes you liked, but the salt air would always find a way in.” “They were trapped until morning. Six suspects, one murder weapon, and Iris’ grandson caught in the middle of it all.” Great Escapes Praise for A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery) by Mona Marple A Whale of a Crime is a cute cozy with a seaside bookshop, a Whale Watch Weekend, residents with secrets, a boat and a body, a clever canine, an energetic grandmother, missing money, and troubling truths. ~The Avid Reader Marine conservation, murder, and a bit of Yorkshire pluck make A WHALE OF A CRIME an outstanding series debut. Grab a nice cup of tea, or perhaps a pint, and be ready for a captivating read! ~Cozy Up With Kathy I recommend A Whale of a Crime for other fans of cozy mysteries and especially for readers who enjoy a British village setting. ~View from the Birdhouse More About Mona Marple Mona Marple writes charming cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty whodunits, and settings you’ll wish you could visit—especially if you love a bit of seasonal sparkle. Best known for her beloved Candy Cane Hollow series, Mona creates worlds where murder meets mistletoe and sleuthing pairs perfectly with a cup of tea. When she’s not writing, Mona can be found walking her Labradoodle, Coco, plotting her next murder (on the page, of course), or hosting reader parties in her cozy online community. Author Links WEBSITE    FACEBOOK    FACEBOOK GROUP    INSTAGRAM Purchase Links Amazon Also by Mona Marple Find all of Mona Marple's Books HERE. TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops.  June 4 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT June 4 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW June 4 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT June 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT June 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW June 5 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW June 6 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW June 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT June 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT June 7 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT June 7 – Angel's Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW June 8 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT June 8 – Sneaky the Library Cat's blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW June 9 – Novels Alive - REVIEW June 9 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR GUEST POST June 9 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT June 10 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW June 10 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW June 10 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST June 11 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW June 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent Read the full article

[victoriagleasuredesigns]

“Vultures are extremely sensitive to the dead. Particularly when the dead are doing things they shouldn’t be.” T. Kingfisher, A House with Good Bones

We are starting a new month with a lot of rain, and rainy day reading! 📖 ☔️ In between all the amazing quilting projects of course. We have not found a project for all this fun fabric, but are always up for a new challenge.

What are you excited to read this month?

A new month also means a new reading challenge from @owlcrate @words.and.whimsy @owlcratethenest. Cooking Up Spells is all about magic, and good food. So here is my TBR:

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

Redwall by Brian Jacques

The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean

Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell

Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death by M.C. Beaton

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione

The Baby Dragon Cafe by Aamna Qureshi

It is also a great time to get ready for Spring with some vibrant flower quilts! You can find ready to ship quilts in our Etsy shop at VictoriaGDesigns or Shopify at www.victoriagleasuredesigns.com 💜

[preparfa-2025-radioprudence]

Exercise de clair obscur basé sur le texte “Agatha Raisin - Remède de Cheval” de M.C. Beaton; j’ai fais un storyboard très rough, et j’ai ajouté des valeurs de gris en digital sur procreate - Janvier 2025