The Body on the Beach by Simon Brett

# Of book read so far this year: 7
Title: The Body on the Beach
Author: Simon Brett
Year Published: 2000
Rating (1-10): 9
Date Finished: 02/17/09
Genre: Fiction, cozy mystery
# Of pages: 312
Where did the book come from: PBS
Series: Fethering Mysteries #1

Blurb: Sensible Carole Seddon doesn't have the tolerance to deal with her new bohemian next-door neighbor, Jude, who is quite her opposite in temperment and personality. But Jude doesn't seem so bad when Carole discovers another addition to the neighborhood-a dead body on the beach bearing two wounds on its neck. The odd couple join forces to find the murderer despite the fact that the police force would rather they not be involved.

Other reviews: "A pair of sleuths who are winning enough to make the reader invite them back for more....Holmes and Watson with a dash of Laurel and Hardy." (Toronto Star)

"An impressive debut, marked by the usual attention to wit and detail." (Library Journal)

"The characters are wonderful, and their silliness quite engrossing." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

My Comments: This was a terrific British cozy mystery full of subtle humor (such as the first sentence: "Fethering is on the South Coast, not far from Tarring."). There were many juicy red herrings and more than one body-- one's identity which wasn't revealed until near the end. I especially enjoyed the contrast of the two main characters, Carole and Jude. Carole is staid and very organized in her manner whilst Jude is laid-back and more fluid and untidy. I love the different ways they investigate and I can't wait to read the second in this series, Death on the Downs. Very highly recommended!

Shakespeare's Trollop by Charlaine Harris

# Of book read so far this year: 6
Title: Shakespeare’s Trollop
Author: Charlaine Harris
Year Published: 2004
Rating (1-10): 10
Date Finished: 02/05/09
Genre: Fiction, cozy mystery
# Of pages:194
Where did the book come from: Amazon, $6.99 paperback
Series: Lily Bard #4

Blurb: Shakespeare, Arkansas, is home to endless back roads, historic buildings, colorful residents--and the occasional murder. It is also home to Lily Bard, the local karate expert/cleaning woman with a particular knack for finding skeletons in closets. She is a rather private, unusual sort of person who would rather hide in the shadows than be conspicuously involved in a murder case.

But when the local woman of ill repute is found murdered, being familiar with her dirty laundry could make Lily the next Shakespearean to die. This is the fourth in the Shakespeare/Lily Bard series, and by now the character is well known to the readers.

My Comments: I can’t say enough good about this series. I am very sad that there is only one more book in the series, and Harris has no intentions of adding more to it (I asked her). I admire this authors writing skills, as, being a writer myself, I pay close attention to those sorts of things when reading a book. This one is no exception to the rest – it is well written and has a great plot. There is a lot of sub plots that add to the fun, and that includes Lily’s relationship with Jack. I started to read this book more slowly as I got nearer the end because I simply didn’t want it to be over so soon. I didn’t guess the murderer until right before it was revealed (when I’d started to have some niggling thoughts), and love how the author planned it all out so well. It is an excellent mystery with an interesting lead character.

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

# Of book read so far this year: 4
Title: Real Murders
Author: Charlaine Harris
Year Published: 1990/2007
Rating (1-10): 9
Date Finished: 01/25/09
Genre: Fiction, cozy mystery
# Of pages: 290
Where did the book come from: PBS
Series: Aurora Teagarden #1

Blurb: Though a small town at heart, Lawrenceton, Georgia, has its dark side-and crime buffs. One of whom is librarian Aurora "Roe" Teagarden, a member of the Real Murders Club, which meets once a month to analyze famous cases. It's a harmless pastime-until the night she finds a member killed in a manner that eerily resembles the crime the club was about to discuss. And as other brutal "copycat" killings follow, Roe will have to uncover the person behind the terrifying game, one that casts all the members of Real Murders, herself included, as prime suspects-or potential victims.

My Comments: Again, I am amazed at the ease in which Charlaine Harris seems to flow from one character series to another! This is the first Aurora Teagarden book in the series, and I found it very interesting. It kept me guessing, and had all the requisite red herrings. I’m not sure if I really like Aurora, the character, yet or not, but I certainly enjoyed the book enough to want to read the next one in the series.  This isn't literary fiction, but a fun ride all the same.

#1 Kissing Christmas Goodbye by MC Beaton

# Of book read so far this year: 1
Title: Kissing Christmas Goodbye
Author: M. C. Beaton
Narrator: N/A
Year Published: 2007
Rating (1-10): 9
Date Finished: 01/3/09
Genre: Fiction, cozy mystery
# Of pages: 247
Where did the book come from: PBS
Series: Agatha Raisin, #18

Blurb from Amazon: The indestructible Agatha Raisin, still at the top of her game in her darkly droll 18th whodunit (after Love, Lies and Liquor), is feeling woefully middle-aged after hiring Toni Gilmour, an endearing U.K.-style Nancy Drew full of teen energy and charm. As Toni takes over the pet recovery end of the sleuthing business, Agatha looks into a mysterious letter from Phyllis Tamworthy, the rich matriarch of the Manor House in the idyllic Cotswolds, who suspects family members of plotting to kill her before she can change her will to disinherit them. Agatha and her friend Sir Charles Fraith attend Phyllis's 80th birthday party, only to see the lady keel over, poisoned by hemlock in her salad. Digging into Phyllis's past yields an even darker mystery. Bestseller Beaton's dry wit enhances Agatha's struggles with aging, men and her most challenging case yet

My Comments: This book didn’t catch my interest at first like Agatha’s usually do, but after a bit I was well invested. It is a darker book than usual, but there is no bloodiness or anything, just the mood is darker. I must admit it kept me guessing all through the book. I also like how it didn’t end directly after solving the murder, but there was a good chapter afterwards. Looks like the bloom is off of the James rose, which is (in my opinion) a relief. I also found the new detective, Toni, to be delightful. She adds spark to a rather long series. Good read!