Cozy Mystery Releases September 2021

I love when a new batch of books comes out. I found a few. Most of these are later in the series. Which is ok in the cozy world. It’s totally OK to pick up a series in the middle. Who knows? You may find a new favorite. I’ve included some reviews on the books as well as other books by the author to help you find the perfect cozy read for September. Well, on to the list.

Susan Wittig Albert: Hemlock (This will be the 28th in the China Bayles Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

From Susan Wittig Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of A Plain Vanilla Murder, comes a tightly crafted novel that juxtaposes the disappearance of a rare, remarkably illustrated 18th-century herbal with the true and all-too-human story of its gifted creator, Elizabeth Blackwell.

Herbalist China Bayles’ latest adventure takes her to the mountains of North Carolina, where her friend Dorothea Harper serves as the director and curator of the Hemlock House Library, a priceless collection of rare gardening books housed in a haunted mountainside mansion that once belonged to Sunny Carswell, a reclusive heiress. But the most valuable book—A Curious Herbal, created by Elizabeth Blackwell in the 1730s—is missing and Dorothea is under suspicion.

China’s search for the thief takes on a new urgency when she discovers Miss Carswell’s bookseller, the victim of an attempted murder. Is his shooting connected with the theft? And there are other urgent questions: What is the Hemlock Guild? Who owns Socrates.com? Did Sunny Carswell really kill herself, or does her ghost have a different story to tell? And what is the real truth behind the many tantalizing mysteries of A Curious Herbal?

Hemlock is a compelling mix of mystery and herb lore, past secrets and present sins, and characters who are as real as your friends and neighbors—in an absorbing novel that only Susan Wittig Albert could create.

Catherine Bruns: Dessert is the Bomb (This will be the 11th in the Cookies & Chance Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns comes a hauntingly hilarious Halloween Cookies & Chance mystery!

Baker turned sometimes-sleuth Sally Muccio has always loved Halloween, but this year she has more on her mind than ghosts and goblins. In addition to catering a party at her wacky father’s funeral home, a competing bakery has just moved in across the street from Sally’s Samples. The new owner, Celeste Delgado, seems intent on burying Sal’s novelty cookie shop into the ground with her sensational smash cake bombs. Suddenly, the homemade fortune cookies that Sal and her best friend Josie create with loving care are predicting an ominous future for their business.

Before Sal can discover what’s behind Celeste’s grudge, the woman is killed by an explosion. To take the cake, Josie was heard threatening Celeste shortly before her death. A night in the slammer, another deadly explosion, and dangerous family secrets all add to Sal’s growing list of concerns. Like an oven timer, precious minutes of her life are ticking away. Can she find Celeste’s killer before everything blows up in her face?

*Recipes Included!*

The Cookies & Chance Mysteries:
Tastes Like Murder (book #1)
A Spot of Murder (short story in the “Killer Beach Reads” collection)
Baked to Death (book #2)
Burned to a Crisp (book #3)
Frosted With Revenge (book #4)
Silenced by Sugar (book #5)
A Drizzle Before Dying (short story in the “Pushing Up Daisies” collection)
Crumbled to Pieces (book #6)
Sprinkled in Malice (book #7)
Ginger Snapped to Death (book #8)
Icing on the Casket (book #9)
Knee Deep in Dough (book #10)
Dessert is the Bomb (book #11)

What critics are saying:

“A fantastic cozy mystery!”
—InD’Tale Magazine

“I want to visit more with all of the quirky characters just to see what crazy and outrageous things they will do next!”
—Fresh Fiction

“The Cookies and Chance Mystery series is more than just a series….it’s a family !! Once you read the first book, you are hooked and feel like a member of the crazy Muccio family.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

Lynn Cahoon: A Killer Christmas Wish (This will be the 7th in the Cat Latimer Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

From NYT bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, comes a new Cat Latimer mystery. Santa’s on his way, but the house Cat shares with her best friend and a monthly writing retreat isn’t even decorated yet.Christmas is coming early to Cat Latimer’s Writers Retreat. Cat and the gang aren’t feeling the Christmas spirit. First up on her to do list, the last retreat of the year. A group of non-fiction authors dying to get into the Covington library. When one writer is found dead before the first retreat session, Cat must find the killer before he puts her on his naughty list.

Review

“One Poison Pie deliciously blendscharm and magic with a dash of mystery and a sprinkle of romance.” –AgathaAward winning author Daryl Wood Gerber
 
“A well-plotted mystery with a romancethat rings true to life.” —Kirkus Reviews on A Field Guide to Homicide
 
“[Cahoon’s] beloved for herwhimsical whodunits . . . a delightful mystery.” —Woman’s World on Sconedto Death.
 
 “A witchy cooking cozy for fans of thesupernatural and good eating.” – Kirkus Reviews on One Poison Pie.
 
“There’s Magic in the Air with LynnCahoon’s Newest Series.”- Fresh Review on One Poison Pie.
  
“Cahoon excels at characters andsetting, as well as plot, and Memories and Murder is a prime example. A greatchoice for this weekend’s reading list!!” – Reading Is My SuperPower.
  
“Lynn Cahoon has pulled out all thestops and written a story that tugs at the heartstrings and then some!” -AWytch’s Book Review Blog on Memories and Murder.
 
“The Cat Latimer mystery series is somuch rich fun for both readers and aspiring writers, as the writers’ retreatprovides such interesting insights and motivations into the creative process.”Cooking the Books – Criminal Elements on Sconed to Death.
 
“Great characters and realisticdialogue made this book a joy to read. I was captivated from beginning to end.”~Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book on Sconed to Death.
 
“Ms. Cahoon has created a cozyvibe for both the town and for her large Victorian home turned retreat. Hersetting is so inviting I wish I could find something similar to visit!”-Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder on Sconed to Death.

Ann Cleeves: The Heron’s Cry (This will be the 2nd in the Two Rivers Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

New York Times bestseller Ann Cleeves returns with The Heron’s Cry, the extraordinary follow-up to The Long Call, soon to be a major TV series, alongside her two hit TV shows Shetland and Vera.

“In Matthew Venn, Ann has created a complex, daring, subtle character.” —Louise Penny

“A complex mystery full of surprises . . . this character-driven exploration of people’s darkest flaws is a sterling example of Cleeves’ formidable talents.” —Kirkus Reviews

North Devon is enjoying a rare hot summer with tourists flocking to its coastline. Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. What he finds is an elaborately staged murder–Dr Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed with a shard of one of his glassblower daughter’s broken vases.

Dr. Yeo seems an unlikely murder victim. He’s a good man, a public servant, beloved by his daughter. Matthew is unnerved, though, to find that she is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband.

Then another body is found–killed in a similar way. Matthew soon finds himself treading carefully through the lies that fester at the heart of his community and a case that is dangerously close to home.

DI Matthew Venn returns in The Heron’s Cry, in Ann Cleeves powerful next novel, proving once again that she is a master of her craft.

Review

“In her follow-up to The Long Call (2019), Cleeves provides a complex mystery full of surprises. This character-driven exploration of people’s darkest flaws is a sterling example of Cleeves’ formidable talents.”―Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Nancy Coco (aka Nancy J. Parra and Nell Hampton): Here Comes the Fudge (This will be the 10th in the Candy-Coated Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

Fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy never expected her maid of honor duties to include clearing the groom of murder . . .

THE BODY OF A CRIME

It’s late spring on picturesque Mackinac Island, Michigan.  Allie is prepping her Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop for the start of the tourist season and her best friend Jenn’s wedding. But when Jenn’s fiancé Shane, a crime scene investigator on the island, misses a dinner date, the two friends go looking for him. Led by Allie’s bichonpoo Mal into an alley, they come upon Shane standing over a body with a bloody knife in his hand. Shane won’t say what’s happened, just tells them to call 911. As the CSI is taken into custody by his colleagues, including Allie’s beau Rex Manning, the fudge maker vows to prove her friend’s fiancé is not a killer—before the ceremony turns into a jailhouse wedding . . .

Praise for Nancy Coco and the Candy-Coated Mysteries

“An easy romantic read complete with fudge recipes that make it even sweeter.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Full of disguises, danger, and one determined amateur sleuth.”
 —Fresh Fiction 

“A fun and fast-paced cozy mystery.”
—Criminal Element

Help support pet adoption—see details inside the book.

Krista Davis: Murder Outside the Lines (This will be the 3rd in the Pen & Ink Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

With Halloween just around the corner, the fall colors in Georgetown are brilliant. As manager of the Color Me Read bookstore, coloring book creator Florrie Fox has arranged for psychic author Hilda Rattenhorst to read from Spooktacular Ghost Stories. But the celebrity medium arrives for the event in hysterics, insisting she just saw a bare foot sticking out of a rolled-up carpet in a nearby alley. Is someone trying to sweep murder under the rug? Florrie calls in her policeman beau, Sergeant Eric Jonquille, but the carpet corpse has disappeared without a trace. Then in the middle of her reading, Hilda chillingly declares that she feels the killer’s presence in the store. Is this a publicity stunt or a genuine psychic episode? It seems there’s no happy medium. When a local bibliophile is soon discovered missing, a strange mystery begins to unroll. Now it’s up to Florrie and Jonquille to expose a killer’s true colors . . .

Vicki Delany (aka Eva Gates): Deadly Summer Nights (This will be the 1st in the NEW Catskill Summer Resort Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

“An immersive setting with details of running a Catskillsresort in the 1950s (think Kellerman’s in Dirty Dancing) beautifully frame a story with plot twists and a cast of well-delineated characters.”–Booklist

A summer of fun at a Catskills resort comes to an abrupt end when a guest is found murdered, in this new 1950s set mystery series.
 
It’s the summer of 1953, and Elizabeth Grady is settling into Haggerman’s Catskills Resort. As a vacation getaway, Haggerman’s is ideal, and although Elizabeth’s ostentatious but well-meaning mother is new to running the resort, Elizabeth is eager to help her organize the guests and the entertainment acts. But Elizabeth will have to resort to untested abilities if she wants to save her mother’s business.

When a reclusive guest is found dead in a lake on the grounds, and a copy of The Communist Manifesto is found in his cabin, the local police chief is convinced that the man was a Russian spy. But Elizabeth isn’t so sure, and with the fate of the resort hanging in the balance, she’ll need to dodge red herrings, withstand the Red Scare, and catch a killer red-handed.

Review

“Delany’s gift with character is front and center in this novel…This is a great start to a new series–vivid, well-written, and snappy.”–Mystery Scene

Praise for Vicki Delany’s Year-Round Christmas Mystery Series

“Delightful…[A] humorous tinsel-covered tale that made me laugh out loud even while keeping me guessing.”—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author
 
“Witty writing, an unexpected solution, and truly likable characters ensure that the appeal of this holiday-themed series will last long past the Yule season.”—Kings River Life Magazine“

This is a cozy mystery filled with murder, mayhem, warmth, and Christmas cheer.  What more could you want?”—Carstairs Considers
 
“Delany has given us a story full of holiday cheer, an exciting mystery, wondrous characters all in a place I would love to really visit. Its charm just lit up my day. This is one mystery you shouldn’t miss this holiday season.”—Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book

Leighann Dobbs: Claw and Order (This will be the 8th in the Mystic Notch Cozy Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

Bookstore owner Willa Chance had no idea that a magical key was hidden in the old recipe book that she sold to food blogger Mary Ashford. Luckily the key is now safely tucked away in a box high on a shelf in the bookstore…. or is it?

Feline sleuth Pandora needs Willa’s help to make sure that key doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. This time she’ll have to take drastic measures to break through the barrier that has stopped her from communicating with her human… even if she has to take a chance on one of Pepper St. Onge’s enchanted teas. The teas are known to have unpredictable results, but Pandora is desperate and what could be worse than the threat to Mystic Notch?

The results of drinking the tea are worse than Pandora could have ever imagined. But not worse than murder. Which is exactly what happens to Mary Ashford. And if Pandora and Willa don’t figure out who is behind this, Mary won’t be the only one who ends up dead.

Sofie Kelly (aka Sofie Ryan & Darlene Ryan for Young Adult): Hooked on a Feline (This will be the 13th in the Magical Cats Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

Librarian Kathleen Paulson and her inquisitive cats find themselves in a jam when a musician turns up dead, in the newest installment of this New York Times bestselling series.

It’s summer in Mayville Heights, and Kathleen Paulson and her detective boyfriend Marcus, are eager to attend the closing concert of the local music festival. The concert is a success, but then one of the band members is discovered dead shortly after it. At first it’s assumed the death is a robbery gone wrong, but Kathleen suspects foul play—and she’s certain that she, along with her trusty side-cats, Owen and Hercules, can help solve the murder.

Before his death, Kathleen had noticed the victim in the library researching his genealogy, and when she and Marcus take a closer look at the man’s family tree, they begin to think a previous death of one of his relatives now seems suspicious. The more Kathleen thinks about it, the more this murder feels like it could be an encore performance. Kathleen and her cats will need to act fast and be very careful if they want to stay off of a killer’s hit list.

Review

Praise for the New York Times Bestselling Series
 
“Cozy readers will enjoy spending time with Kathleen, her cats, and the appealing residents of Mayville Heights.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Will delight fans of cat mysteries and Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lover’s series.”—Library Journal
 
“Ms. Kelly continues her highly successful series with another winning tale…Lots of great characters and two adorable cats.”—Fresh Fiction
 
“Owen and Hercules are a delight.”—Kings River Life Magazine
 
“With great characters and an interesting story, readers will be in for a treat with this classic whodunit.”—RT Book Reviews

Laura Levine: Murder Gets a Makeover (This will be the 18th in the Jaine Austin Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

Writer-for-hire Jaine Austen, living in L.A. with her cat, Prozac, appreciates one of the perks of working freelance—a wardrobe that’s heavy on elastic waists. But her BFF, Lance, has a makeover in mind, and it’s about to lead to murder . . .
 
Uber-stylist Bebe Braddock plans to juice up her Instagram feed, and thinks Jaine would make a perfect “Before & After” model. At Lance’s insistence Jaine is ushered into Bebe’s sprawling Brentwood spread to await her transformation. Yet, while the surroundings are glamorous, the atmosphere is toxic as Bebe bullies her team of assistants, and even her husband, into obeying her every whim.
 
Having earned the wrath of everyone in her orbit, few are shocked when Bebe is found strangled with one of her detested wire hangers. But Jaine’s prints are all over the murder weapon, making her a prime suspect. The police, however, aren’t the only ones showing interest in her—so is Justin, Bebe’s very cute, very young personal assistant. While Jaine navigates a cougar-style romance, Prozac is mistakenly hailed as a feline hero and catapults into internet fame. Still, there are more urgent matters at hand than Prozac’s swelling ego. Because unless Jaine can track down Bebe’s killer and clear her own name, the only new outfit she’ll be modeling is an orange prison jumpsuit. . .
 

Review

OUTSTANDING PRAISE FOR LAURA LEVINE’S
JAINE AUSTEN MYSTERIES

DEATH OF A GIGOLO
“A solid mystery. . . . Fans of Mary Daheim and Tamar Myers will appreciate the comedy.”
—Library Journal
 
“Cozy fans are in for a treat.” 
—Publishers Weekly
 
“This cozy will delight fans who like a sharp comeback—and maybe a tater tot on the side.”
—Kirkus Reviews

DEATH OF A NEIGHBORHOOD SCROOGE
“This is a thoroughly enjoyable cozy with just the right balance of crime, humor, and holiday spirit.”
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

MURDER HAS NINE LIVES
“Jaine pursues justice and sanity in her usual hilarious yet smart way, with Levine infusing wit into her heroine’s every thought. A thoroughly fun read that will interest Evanovich fans.”
—Booklist
 
“Another expertly conceived whodunit.”
—Fresh Fiction
 
KILLING CUPID
“Jaine is absolutely hysterical . . . this author continues to write the best cozies.”
—Suspense Magazine

DEATH OF A NEIGHBORHOOD WITCH
“Levine’s latest finds her at her witty and wacky best.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
THIS PEN FOR HIRE
“Laura Levine’s hilarious debut mystery, This Pen for Hire, is a laugh a page (or two or three) as well as a crafty puzzle. Sleuth Jaine Austen’s amused take on life, love, sex and L.A. will delight readers. Sheer fun!”
—Carolyn Hart

Archer Mayor: Marked Man (This will be the 32nd in the Joe Gunther Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

In Archer Mayor’s Marked Man, the death of a local millionaire becomes suspicious when Joe Gunther learns that he was not who he claimed.

A year ago, local philanthropist and millionaire Nathan Lyon died a natural death in his sprawling mansion, a 150,000 square foot converted mill, surrounded by his loving, attentive family. Or so it seemed at the time. Now Joe Gunther and his Vermont Bureau of Investigation team has discovered that almost nothing about that story was true. Nathan Lyon was actually Nick Bianchi from Providence, Rhode Island. His money came from Mafia-tainted sources. And his family now seems to be dying themselves and their deaths are now revealed to be murders.

As Gunther’s team desperately works to uncover what is going on at The Mill, who is responsible and what they are trying to accomplish, Joe himself travels to Rhode Island to look into the original source of the money. While the police are doing their jobs, private investigator Sally Kravitz teams up with reporter Rachel Reiling to expose the truth behind this tangled and expanding web of duplicity, greed, and obsession. Having betrayed many, it’s no surprise that Nathan Lyon was a marked man. But now Gunther has to figure out who, among the many, killed him, and stop them before their killing spree claims another.

Andrea Penrose: Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens (This will be the 5th in the Wrexford & Sloane Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

A thrilling new mystery novel from the acclaimed author of Murder at Queen’s Landing, perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Anne Perry! The wedding of the Earl of Wrexford and Lady Charlotte Sloane is not-to-be-missed, but the murder of a brilliant London scientist threatens their plans—and their lives…
 
One advantage of being caught up in a whirl of dress fittings and decisions about flower arrangements and breakfast menus is that Charlotte Sloane has little time for any pre-wedding qualms. Her love for Wrexford isn’t in question. But will being a wife—and a Countess—make it difficult for her to maintain her independence—not to mention, her secret identity as famed satirical artist A.J. Quill?
 
Despite those concerns, there are soon even more urgent matters to attend to during Charlotte and Wrexford’s first public outing as an engaged couple. At a symposium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a visiting botanist suffers a fatal collapse. The traces of white powder near his mouth reveal the dark truth—he was murdered. Drawn into the investigation, Charlotte and the Earl learn of the victim’s involvement in a momentous medical discovery. With fame and immense fortune at stake, there’s no shortage of suspects, including some whose ruthlessness is already known. But neither Charlotte nor her husband-to-be can realize how close the danger is about to get—or to what lengths this villain is prepared to go . . .
 

Review

Praise for the Wrexford & Sloane Historical Mystery series

MURDER AT QUEEN’S LANDING
 
“Scientific discoveries combine with a complex mystery to provide an action‑packed brainteaser.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“The author captures the Regency era’s complexities in vivid settings, contrasting milieus, and a wealth of fascinating details.”
—Publishers Weekly


MURDER AT HALF MOON GATE

“Penrose deftly combines a Regency romance with a tricky mystery that delves into social unrest and the darker side of this storied period.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Its complex story line and authentic historical details bring the early days of the Industrial Revolution vividly to life. Bound to fascinate readers of C.S. Harris and even fans of Victorian mysteries.”
—Library Journal,Starred Review
 
“The relationship and banter between the two stars of this series is incredible. Readers will look forward to seeing Charlotte and Wrex again (and hopefully very soon).”
—Suspense Magazine

 “Penrose reveals intriguing new aspects of her protagonists’ characters and relationship in a story linked to the era’s technological and social changes.”
—Publishers Weekly

MURDER ON BLACK SWAN LANE

“Thoroughly enjoyable . . . with sharp, engaging characters, rich period detail, and a compellingly twisty plot, Andrea Penrose delivers a winner . . . Fans of C.S. Harris and Kate Ross will be rooting for Charlotte Sloane and the Earl of Wrexford. Devilishly good fun!”
—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
 
“Fans of C.S. Harris take note! In this new, Regency-set mystery series, the artist Charlotte Sloane and the scientist Earl of Wrexford are the perfect mismatched pair of sleuths. A riveting ride through Regency London, from the slums of St. Giles, to the mansions of Mayfair.”
—Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author
 
“A wonderfully engaging Regency mystery, with a most determined heroine and an engaging pair of street urchins at her side. Historical chemistry meets alchemy, and only a nonchalant nobleman can help solve the murder. A delight of a book.”
—Joanna Bourne, award-winning author
 
 “A female 19th-Century cartoonist as an amateur sleuth is a welcome innovation.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
MURDER AT KENSINGTON PALACE

“Penrose does a good job linking the mystery to the period’s scientific and social changes. Those seeking an unusually rich lookat Regency life will be satisfied.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
“Penrose is excellent at conveying the details of early 19th-century science and experiments with electricity. This was the era of Frankenstein, after all. The relationship between Wrexford and Charlotte is further developed in this book, and I am looking forward to seeing where it leads next.”
—Historical Novel Society
 
“Penrose deftly intertwines the politics of navigating Regency-era society, scientific progress, and the deepening relationship between the protagonists. Series fans will enjoy revisiting the lively cast of characters, while historical fiction readers will be satisfied by the immersive, richly detailed mystery.”
—Library Journal

“Murder at Kensington Palace is a challenging story, replete with scientific discoveries and challenges of the time, but it’s grounded in loyalty, persistence, and courage.”
—Criminal Element
 
 “Science and romance meet in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game.”
—Kirkus Reviews

Anne Perry: A Darker Reality (This will be the 2nd in the Elena Standish Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

A personal trip turns perilous for Elena Standish after the murder of a British spy forces her to face dark family secrets in this exciting 1930s mystery by bestselling author Anne Perry.

On her first trip to Washington, D.C., Elena Standish finally gets to visit her American mother’s wealthy parents and their magnificent home. Elena’s grandparents are marking a milestone anniversary by throwing an elaborate party with the influential friends of her grandfather, a prominent political industrialist. Even President and First Lady Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are there, and Elena takes pride in capturing the illustrious guests on camera. But the festivities come to a sudden and tragic end when one of the guests, Lila Worth, is run over by a car in the driveway outside. Elena believes Lila was trying to tell her something before her death, and when a call from her employer back home, MI6, confirms that Lila was a British spy, Elena pairs with a fellow agent to find out what vital information the young woman had in her possession.

Soon an arrest is made in Lila’s murder, and to Elena’s horror, the accused is none other than her own grandfather, who claims his political enemies are trying to frame him. But who are these enemies, and how can Elena defend this man she barely knows? Nevertheless, determined to clear his name and save her family from disgrace, she delves into the details of her grandfather’s investments and discovers that his business secrets run deep. As Elena begins to question his loyalties, she wonders if she can trust anyone in this threatening new world order.

Review

Praise for A Question of Betrayal

“[Anne] Perry ties her story-strands together in convincing fashion, in a work whose twentieth-century setting seems to have brought out new psychological and descriptive nuances in an author better-known for her Victorian-era novels.”—The Wall Street Journal

“[An] excellent sequel . . . Perry expertly blends character development with plot surprises. This prolific author shows no sign of losing steam.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Suspenseful and tense . . . [A Question of Betrayal] shows how brilliant a writer and plotter Anne Perry is.”—Bookreporter

Praise for Death in Focus

“Readers who love historical mysteries know that some of the most dramatic stories are set in the interim between the two world wars, when both the victors and the vanquished felt uneasy about their provisional hold on peace. Anne Perry stakes a strong claim to that unstable terrain in Death in Focus . . . the first book in a new series that opens in 1933 as Elena Standish, a resourceful photographer, is caught up in the world of international intrigue.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Death in Focus [is] reminiscent of works by Eric Ambler and Graham Greene. Cameo appearances by historical figures . . . enhance this thrilling work. . . . Perry conjures the mixed emotions and misplaced optimism of a period when many Establishment figures were desperate to avoid another world war.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Perry has found the perfect time period to showcase a family’s impassioned defense of democracy and social justice in the face of rising totalitarianism. . . . At turns heartbreaking and action-packed, this gripping and superbly written story proves Perry still has what it takes.”—Library Journal (starred review)

Rose Pressey: Murder Can Frost Your Donut (This will be the 4th in the Haunted Craft Fair Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

The ghost of an Elvis impersonator has got psychic painter Celeste Cabot all shook up . . .

Celeste has pulled up in her pink Shasta trailer, aka mobile art studio, to the Sevier County Fair in the mountains of eastern Tennessee to sell her paintings. A highlight of the fair promises to be the celebrity impersonation contest. But the low point is when Celeste and her floppy-eared white Chihuahua Van (short for Van Gogh) find an Elvis impersonator in his trailer doing a great impression of a corpse, clutching a doughnut in his hand.

Seeking a vision to solve the crime, Celeste paints her own Elvis portrait—and suddenly the ghost of the Elvis impersonator appears. They say fools rush in, but with the help of this spirit, Celeste sets out to find the real killer among all the fake celebrities. It’s now or never, because there won’t be time to tell the killer: “Don’t be cruel.”

Includes tips and recipes!

Praise for the Haunted Craft Fair Mysteries

“[A] plucky self-employed heroine, cute pet, scary ghost, and two eligible suitors: everything a cozy needs.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“The paranormal twist adds a bit of flair to this quirky new series.” 
—The Parkersburg News & Sentinel

Dorothy St. James: A Perfect Bind (This will be the 2nd in the Beloved Bookroom Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

Librarian Tru Beckett, ardent defender of the printed word, is about to find out that keeping murder checked out of her beloved library is much harder than she thought…

Tru Beckett succeeded in building a secret book room in her now bookless library, where book lovers from lovely Cypress, South Carolina, can rejoice in the printed word. Now she’s working hard to maintain the little library downstairs while keeping her “real job” upstairs in the bookless technology center. The last thing she needs is a mysterious vandal who seems intent on breaking into her secret book-filled sanctuary and creating chaos. The nasty interloper doesn’t steal anything, but brutalizes the books, damaging them and knocking them off shelves.

A patron of the secret book room tells Tru that there have been creepy goings-on at the library for years, especially in the basement where the secret book room is located. He’s heard rumors of a poltergeist that haunts the library, determined to scare off readers. Tru is certain it’s hogwash, but she’s at a loss to think of who might be vandalizing the beautiful books she fought so hard to protect. And when a dead body shows up right behind the library, Tru is certain that it’s not a ghost but a cold-blooded killer that she and her trusty tabby Dewey Decimal will need to uncover.

Kari Lee Townsend: Chaos and Cold Feet (This will be the 7th in the Sunny Meadows Mystery Series.) From the Amazon description:

Psychic Sunshine Meadows can’t predict just how tricky tying the knot can be…

After finally picking the perfect date, Sunny and her fiancé Detective Mitch Stone are about to get married, and even her mischievous cat Morty seems to be on board. This time her best friend and her friend’s husband are the maid of honor and best man, but they have brand new baby twin boys who need to be baptized first. Just as soon as the ceremony for the babies is finished, Sunny and Mitch’s wedding will take place. Except everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and Sunny develops cold feet, feeling it’s an omen she can’t ignore. Mitch convinces her to work with him in figuring out who is sabotaging their wedding and promises to warm her up until death do they part.

I hope this helps fill your September TBR. Tell me, did you find a new addition to your bookshelf?

Happy reading.

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