bugabusu's reviews
248 reviews

I want to live in Naneda and be friends with Agnes and Chester. The dialogue is pithy and I would be in tears everyday from the continuous laughing. Maia Chance gives all the characters, not just Agnes, great one liners. The blatant sleuthing of Agnes and Effie is wonderfully agreeable. Instead of accepting that it's normal for an everyday person to ask probing questions, Agnes and Effie are questioned back by the suspects and instead of getting away with sneaking around they get caught. This is all very refreshing. The cast of characters and the situations they get into are so funny; I cannot give enough praise to the hilariousness of this book. This is at the top of my favorite murder mysteries I have read this year, right up there with Craig Johnson's Longmire series. The reader will enjoy tagging along with the gaggle as they solve the murder.

The Golden Glow is a very good allegory for leave no trace. This picture book was a cute and fun read. Fox goes on a camping trip to find and collect a flower that he doesn’t even have a picture of. His friends help him along the way. When he finally discovers the flower he has to make a decision whether to collect the flower or leave it. The illustrations that accompany the story are absolutely beautiful. The colors are bright and the geometricity of the characters and scenery are very appealing. The Golden Glow is a great story for any little (or even big) outdoors person in your life.

Who knew horoscopes could stir up so much craziness? Clara Voyant by Rachelle Delaney is an amusing story about a girl who wants a traditional home but whose mother is unconventional. Clara has just recently moved to a new house, neighborhood, and school and she is a journalist for the school newspaper. While she wants to write investigative pieces the editor has her create a horoscope column. This creates all sorts of crazy scenarios to include the intriguing fact that Clara may be clairvoyant. The story starts a little slow but gathers speed. All the characters are very heartwarming. The adjectives used to explain the color of the rooms are vivid enough for one to imagine the scene. And the description of the foods are detailed enough for the reader’s mouth to either water or gag. This a fun story that would make a great read for any young person who is new to a place, whose parents are different, or who is just trying to fit in.

I have never so badly wanted to eat a cookie while reading a book. This lovely cozy murder mystery, Of Murder and Men by Lynn Cahoon, has so many scenes with such delicious descriptions of the food being eaten that a reader could gain weight just from reading it. Cat, a successful author who leads a writers’ retreat at her newly inherited Victorian mansion, learns more about her recently deceased ex-husband’s death and at the same time assists her Uncle, the chief of police, in solving the murder of her best friend’s fiancé. What more could you ask for in a story, two unsolved crimes for the price of one? I thought it was a pleasant change from the standard that Cat doesn’t solve the crime all by herself. The involvement of all the different characters and their interactions with Cat and with others made for interesting subplots. If you want a fun, quick read that will have your mouth watering while you solve the mystery this it the book for you.

Samantha Spinner and the Super-Secret Plans is an amazing adventure tale. Samantha and her brother start in Seattle and end up traveling all over the globe via a secret transportation system while they search for their missing uncle. They have to fight of ninjas, evil rings, and hunger. This story introduces young readers to famous sites around the world, well known art, other countries as well as some well known rare collector's items. This tale is a wonderful mix of humor, sibling relationships, and of course thrilling escapades. And to add to it all there are several puzzles as part of the book. Samantha Spinner is a great read for young and old who are looking for a new adventure.

This Chesapeake girl really enjoys reading these stories. Maya Corrigan captures the region's characteristics so well in her Five Ingredient Mystery Series; the weather, the food, the history, and the people. How Val and her grandfather always end up having to work together to solve the mystery and the hijinks they get up to figure out the murderer really add to the fun of the story. This time around they get involved with an author who is recapturing Poe and in the process an actor gets killed. Of course Gunnar is a suspect and of course Bethany is involved in sneaking around in the dark. All in all another great addition to the series.

I absolutely enjoyed Nothing Happened by Molly Booth. I am a big fan of Shakespeare, especially his comedies. This was a wonderful, modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. The tale has so many twists and the suspense of what was going to happen next keeps the reader enthralled. Will Ben and Bee end up together? Will Claudia and Hana? Will those have designed mischief take recourse to correct the problems that they’ve created? It was hard to put the book down waiting for what was going to happen next. And all the descriptions of camp and Maine make me desperately want to take a vacation to the lovely state. Ms. Booth’s version of this Shakespearean comedy is fun and entertaining with all the cute romance a person can handle.

It's a sticky murder. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this cozy murder mystery that revolved around a Maple syrup festival. Robbie's witnesses a couple of people arguing with a visiting professor who is later discovered dead by Robbie's aunt. Robbie's employee at her country shop and her friend are both personally involved in the investigation. Robbie gets involved because of her curiosity and love of puzzle solving. All the while she has to run her country shop/restaurant. I liked the main and side story lines including the little romance side story, it seemed more realistic than in other murder mysteries I've read. Add to this the recipes at the end of the book and you have a wonderful combination for an afternoon curled up on the couch reading.