Looking for something to read? Check out some of the new titles releasing during the week of April 23 – 29, 2023 with five debut series. I hope a few of these books take you to an exciting place. Have fun reading!
Paper Cuts by Ellery Adams (Cozy)
Nora escaped her past a decade ago. So it feels like a visit from another world when Kelly Walsh—the woman her ex-husband left her for—walks through the door of Miracle Books along with her son, a sweet, serious boy with a talent for origami. Kelly hasn’t come to gloat, though. As it turns out, she’s been dumped too. She’s also terribly ill, and all she wants from Nora is forgiveness. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Death by Naked Ladies by Christa Bakker (Cozy) *first book in a new series*
Don’t you hate it when a sexy young man shows up on your doorstep and wants to be your assistant? My criminal ex-husband’s nephew seems to think I need him. But even in this rural French village, my photography business is doing very well, thank you. Format: Print, Digital
Cinnamon Twisted by Ginger Bolton (Cozy)
An ordinary late-spring afternoon for Deputy Donut Cafe owner Emily Westhill becomes one that will remain baked into her memory from the moment a customer gives Emily’s cat a toy donut and then flees Deputy Donut, dropping an earring in her panic. Concerned about the customer, Emily attempts to return the earring . . . only this time the customer doesn’t have a pulse. Format: Print, Digital
Bare-Naked Lola by Melissa Bourbon (Cozy) *re-release*
Going undercover is second nature for Private Investigator Lola Cruz, but she’s out of her league when the case of a murdered Royals Courtside Dancer leads her to a local nudist resort. Parading around the sidelines of Sacramento’s professional basketball scene in a barely there cheerleading outfit is one thing – but parading around in nothing but a smile? Format: Digital
#TagMe For Murder by Sarah Burr (Cozy)
After cracking her first case, Cordelia “Coco” Cline’s life is finally getting back to normal—or as normal as life can be when you have over three million followers online. With a thriving business, a devoted boyfriend, and her two besties living right up the street, Coco is set to have the most fun summer of her life until Larry and Rosalynn Dunmer move into the condo next door. Format: Print
Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge (Historical) *first in a new series*
As Paris rediscovers its joie de vivre, Tabitha Knight, recently arrived from Detroit for an extended stay with her French grandfather, is on her own journey of discovery. Paris isn’t just the City of Light; it’s the city of history, romance, stunning architecture . . . and food. Thanks to her neighbor and friend Julia Child, another ex-pat who’s fallen head over heels for Paris, Tabitha is learning how to cook for her Grandpère and Oncle Rafe. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Hallowed Ground by Linda Castillo (Short Story Thriller)
When a family dog brings home a human bone, Chief of Police Kate Burkholder finds herself on a desperate search for answers. Where did the bone come from? Who does it belong to? And perhaps most importantly, are the bones a result of foul play? With Halloween approaching, the unsettling questions garner uneasiness, rumors, and macabre theories among the residents of Painters Mill. Format: Digital
Moorewood Family Rules by HelenKay Dimon (Women’s Fiction)
One day a con man met an heiress, wooed her, married her, had two kids…and kept on conning. Jillian Moorewood is the oldest child from that meet-cute-gone-wrong marriage. The stable one. The sensible and dependable one. The one who protects and fixes. The one who went to prison to save their sorry butts. Now, thirty-nine months later, she’s out and she’s more than a little pissed. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Dedication to Murder by Lauren Elliott (Cozy)
Wedding bells are about to ring again in Greyborne Harbor, and as Addie slips into her white dress her thoughts are focused on a bright future with Dr. Simon Emerson. But a discovery in her attic leads her to startling revelations about the past. As the owner of Beyond the Page Books and Curios and a lifelong bibliophile, Addie is delighted to find a rare collection of classic children’s books gathering dust in a secret room beneath the rafters, including a first edition of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Death by Iced Coffee by Alex Erickson (Cozy)
It’s a brutally hot day in Pine Hills, and Krissy Hancock would love to be sitting in a shady spot and sipping her favorite iced coffee. Instead, she’s lacing up her sneakers for a marathon—and swiftly regretting it. Especially when she finds one of the other runners lying motionless. At first Krissy suspects heatstroke, but the red marks around the man’s throat tell a more sinister story. Format: Print, Digital
Poaching Is Puzzling by Daryl Wood Gerber (Cozy)
The annual crossword puzzle contest has drawn contestants from near and far to Crystal Cove, and Jenna watches in amazement as puzzle-themed books fly off the shelves at the Cookbook Nook. Her aunt Vera is putting up a sizable cash prize, and no one is more surprised than Jenna to discover there’s bad blood between Vera and the prominent puzzle constructor who’s acting as master of ceremonies. And when the puzzle guru has his throat slit while he’s out hiking, the police instantly peg Aunt Vera as the culprit. Format: Print, Digital
Death by Chocolate Marshmallow Pie by Sarah Graves (Cozy)
Summer in Eastport means lobsters and blueberries, though tourists and locals alike always leave a little room for baked goods from The Chocolate Moose. This year’s arts festival, featuring food, games, and rollicking local musicians, means even more sweet-toothed customers. But it’s also bringing competition from a new rival, Choco’s, that’s trying to slice into the action. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths (Traditional)
When builders discover a human skeleton during a renovation of a café, they call in archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway, who is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with DCI Nelson. The bones turn out to be modern—the remains of Emily Pickering, a young archaeology student who went missing in 2002. Suspicion soon falls on Emily’s Cambridge tutor and also on another archeology enthusiast who was part of the group gathered the weekend before she disappeared—Ruth’s friend Cathbad. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Nine Ways to Die by Kate Hallock (Cozy) *first in a new series*
When a girl is found dead of hypothermia in the middle of an Atlanta heat wave, the police are baffled. But Tara Sharp thinks it may be just the clue she needs to find her missing little sister. As she unravels the complex case, she becomes one of nine suspects, each a different number on the Enneagram, in the murder of Michael Higgins. Format: Print, Digital
Negative Reaction by Lori Roberts Herbst (Cozy)
The long-awaited day has arrived—photographer Callie Cassidy’s best friend is tying the knot. With a gentle snow falling outside and family and friends gathered inside, the wedding couldn’t be more perfect. Even Callie’s golden retriever, Woody, and her tabby cat, Carl, have donned tuxes for the occasion. And the icing on the cake? Callie’s trainee, Braden, is acting as official photographer, with the assistance of his twin brother, Banner. Callie is as proud as if she were their mother. Format: Digital
No Justice For the Deceived by Nancy Herriman (Historical)
Word of an upcoming engagement that will join two prominent families has tongues wagging among San Francisco society, but Celia worries the bride-to-be may be making a serious mistake. Her intended, a controlling man and a known womanizer, has recently been linked to a violent attack on a former mistress. When a hapless maid is poisoned at the party where the engagement was to be announced, Celia discovers that the fiancé was the intended victim. Format: Print, Digital
Homicide at the Vicarage by Callie Hutton (Historical)
Lord William has finally gained his desire to move his family from Bath to his country estate, Wethington Manor, west of Reading, not too far from either Bath or London. Lady Amy is a happy, contented mother to their son, and has taken up her writing once again. Their family members are close by, and all is well. Format: Digital
A Shush Before Dying by Dale Ivan (Historical) *first in a new series*
April 1985. Fir Grove Library, Portland, Oregon: Big hair. Leggings. Card catalogs. Kicking kids with giant boom boxes out of the library. Meg’s got it all handled—until her boss takes off on a way-too-long vacation and leaves her in charge. Format: Digital
Concert Hall Hit by J.C. Kenney (Cozy)
The town of Marysburg, Indiana, is buzzing with excitement when legendary British blues guitarist Derek Tufnell appears at Marysburg Music to sign autographs and chat with fans the afternoon before a performance at the Marysburg Center for the Performing Arts. The meet-and-greet session is a huge success and record store owner Darcy Gaughan couldn’t be more pleased with how the event went. Format: Digital
Secrets and Sequins by Gayle Leeson (Cozy)
Amanda Tucker, a masterful retro fashion designer, jumps at the chance to showcase her skills by designing stunning gowns for an upcoming masquerade ball. Her talented assistant, Zoe, is tasked with creating matching masks for the occasion. However, the festivities are cut short when the caterer is found brutally murdered, and Zoe’s mother becomes the prime suspect. Format: Digital
Bakery Bump Off by London Lovett (Cozy)
Spring is in the air, and not one but two unexpected visitors arrive at the Moon River Boarding House, each causing their own form of chaos. When murder is added into the mix, Anna St. James finds herself spinning in every direction. Frostfall Island’s newest resident and bakery owner has stirred up no small amount of trouble. So, when the talented pastry chef is found dead in his bakery, Anna has to gather up a list of suspects, and it’s no small task. Format: Digital
Mother of the Bride Murder by Leslie Meier (Cozy)
When Lucy Stone arrives at a sprawling French chateau with the whole family, it should be the trip of a lifetime—especially because she’s about to watch her oldest daughter, Elizabeth, marry the handsome, successful man of her dreams. But while navigating the vast countryside estate owned by her impenetrably wealthy in-laws-to-be, the jet-lagged mother of the bride has a creeping feeling that Elizabeth’s fairytale nuptials to Jean-Luc Schoen-Rene are destined to become a nightmare . . . Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Murder, I Spy by Lynn Morrison (Historical) *first in a new series*
London, 1922. Between gallivanting in his Rolls-Royce and darkening the doorways of London’s hotspots, Lord Reginald “Rex” Bankes-Fernsby has almost succeeded in banishing the battlefield nightmares that plague his sleep. Pity he can’t say the same about that nagging lack of direction in his life. Format: Digital
Fire and Rain by Julie Mulhern (Cozy)
Ellison Jones is used to sirens in the night (unfortunately, they’re usually coming to her house). So, it’s a surprise when the sirens that wake her from the dead come from across the street. Nosy neighbor Marian Dixon’s house is on fire. Luckily, the Dixons are out of town. Unluckily there’s a body found in the ashes—a body not killed by the fire. Format: Digital
Covert in Cairo by Kelly Oliver (Historical)
Following a tip-off from notorious spy Fredrick Fredricks, Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane of British Intelligence find themselves in the hustle and bustle of Egypt. But ancient mummies aren’t the only bodies buried in the tombs of Cairo. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust by Mindy Quigley (Cozy)
Newly single pizzeria owner Delilah O’Leary is determined to keep her restaurant afloat in the picturesque resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. To boost her bottom line, she sets her sights on winning the hefty cash prize in the town’s annual “Taste of Wisconsin” culinary contest. In her corner, she’s got her strong-willed, “big-boned” cat Butterball, her wisecracking BFF, her cantankerous great-aunt, and a nearly-flawless recipe for Pretzel Crust Deep-Dish Bratwurst Pizza. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
We Love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer (Psychological Thriller)
Holly and Robert Barron are attractive young real-estate investors and contestants in a competition run by To the Manor Build, the nation’s most popular home renovation app. With millions in product endorsements and online followers at stake, they’re rehabbing a Vermont home they scored at a bargain price into a chic hilltop estate ideal for entertaining. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Murder on Bedford Street by Victoria Thompson (Historical)
Hugh Breedlove is far from the most agreeable client private investigator Frank Malloy has ever had, but his case is impossible to refuse: his young niece, Julia, has been wrongfully committed to an insane asylum by her cruel and unfaithful husband, Chet Longly. Though Breedlove and his wife seem more interested in protecting the family reputation than their niece’s safety, Frank and Sarah agree to help for the sake of Julia and the young son she left behind. Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Interesting list thanks for putting it together.
Thanks, Dru, for including Poaching is Puzzling. What a wealth of good titles for readers to choose from!
Thanks Dru Ann.
Just an FYI Dru, None of the new titles have made it onto the shelves of our local library branches yet. I’m going to share this list with the Queens one that I visit.
Thank you for mentioning Death by Naked Ladies, Dru! Great list!