68
- 0
A Brew to a Kill, by Cleo Coyle, a Coffeehouse Mystery
Kaylie Crimini, the Kupcake Kween, parks her Kupcake Kart right outside Claire's Village Blend coffeehouse in Greenwich Village. Even worse, the Kart plays fake French music on the loudspeaker.
- 8
And the Dying is Easy, edited by Joseph Pittman and Annette Riffle, Review
I became aware of this anthology through Denise Swanson's story, "Not a Monster of a Chance", which is available solo in electronic format. Then, I became curious about the other stories.
- 8
Murder of a Creped Suzette, by Denise Swanson, A Scumble River Mystery
Skye is admiring Flint James' good looks. James' manager, Rex Taylor, had plans to turn Scumble River into the "Branson of Illinois." Suzette Neal was supposed to open for James fifteen minutes ago.
- 2
Murder of a Snake in the Grass.
Skye is helping Uncle Charlie at the Up a Lazy River Motel, where guests for the Scumble River Bicentennial are staying. The descendant of Pierre Scumble turns up dead. Skye's prior boyfriend visits.
- 9
The St. John's Bible Exhibit at the Chazen Museum, in Madison, Wisconsin
The St. John's Bible Exhibit first opened at the Chazen Museum, in Madison, Wisconsin, on December 19, 2014. It will be there through March 15, 2015. It was commissioned by St. John's Abbey, in MN.
- 16
A Little Bit About Celadon
There once was a superstitious belief that a celadon piece of pottery would break or change color if poison food were placed inside of it.
- 14
Roast Mortem ~ Book Review.
Clare and Madame Dreyfus Allegro Dubois --- her octogenarian former mother in - law and present employer --- drive to Queens, to meet an old friend of Madame and her late husband.
- 2
Review, Murder of a Small-Town Honey, by Denise Swanson
Skye has been forced to return to the town where she grew up, twelve years after publicly proclaiming Scumble River, "a small town full of small-minded people, with even smaller intellects."
- 14
A Trolley at Christmas
My dad, a veteran of World War II, introduced me to Ebenezer Scrooge in 1954. We were on the trolley going down Perrysville Avenue. I was going back to my mom and stepdad's house, on James Street.
- 9
The Trouble with Magic. A Bewitching Mystery series review.
Maggie O'Neill grew up in a small town in Indiana, where she worked at a bill collecting job she seriously disliked. Not only is the work unpleasant, but her boss is nicknamed "The Toad" for a reason. The only thing Maggie appreciates about the gentrification of her small town is the antiques...
- 4
On What Grounds ~ The First Coffeehouse Mystery
This is the first installment in the Coffeehouse Mystery series, by Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini, writing as Cleo Coyle, featuring amateur sleuth Clare Cosi. Clare is the manager and part owner of The Village Blend, an historic coffeehouse in Greenwich Village. The Blend has been operating for...
- 2
Mantra for Murder, Review, A.J. Alexander series.
A brief introduction to the Mantra for Murder mystery series, about A.J. Alexander, who owns the Sacred Balance yoga studio in New Jersey. You don't have to know anything about yoga to enjoy the story. Dial Om for Murder was a great read --- but the violent murder makes it a little too non-cozy for...
- 7
We Wish You a Merry Murder, by Valerie Wolzien; A Murder Mystery for Christmas. Review.
Kelly Knowlson knew her ex-husband, Evan, would return to her someday. It's just that she thought it would happen while he was still alive. Instead, she finds him dead in an upholstered chair in her living room, with a cup of hot chocolate and a tray of Christmas cookies arranged nicely on the...
- 18
To Clip or Not to Clip?
That is the question. What do you value, love and appreciate the most? That is the answer. This started out to be an answer in a forum about coupons, but --- I guess since I'm an old granny full of what I HOPE is wit and wisdom (?)--- I found I just couldn't shut myself up on the topic.
- 7
Murder of a Botoxed Blonde, Review
This is the ninth book in the Scumble River Murder Mystery series. Skye accepts a free Thanksgiving spa weekend to investigate some mysterious goings-on at what used to be the old, abandoned mansion.
- 27
Answering Some Objections to the Protests in Madison
Some folks dislike the rallying against Scott Walker. They have a right to their opinions, of course. That's what democracy is all about. I try to explain some misconceptions in this Hub. Some folks just don't like unions, and of coure, that is also their right. But, here in the U.S.A., the...
- 4
Decaffeinated Corpse~ A Coffeehouse Murder Mystery for Halloween, by Cleo Coyle. Review
Decaffeinated Corpse is the fifth in the Coffeehouse Mystery series, by Cleo Coyle (husband and wife team Marc Cerasini and Alice Alfonsi), about Claire COSI (!), the co-owner of an historic coffeehouse in Greenwich Village. This story is about an old college friend of Claire and her ex-husband,...
- 7
Killer Pancake, a Catering Murder Mystery, by Diane Mott Davidson. Review
This book is fifth in the Goldilocks' Catering murder mystery series, featuring amateur sleuth Goldy Schultz. There are some great foods prepared by Goldy and her assistant, Julian, who also lives with Goldy and her son, Arch, and hubby, Tom. There are some engaging characters in this book, like...
- 4
Scotty's Revenge ~~ The Massacre Continues in Wisconsin, 2011
This is a March update to the previous Hub about the February protests in the Capitol building in Madison. Many were upset about a secret legislative meeting in the middle of the night, held without proper notice. Lots of other strange goings-on, as well. (I still never got my blankies back.) It's...
- 0
Holiday Grind, A Coffeehouse Mystery for Christmas, by Cleo Coyle. Review.
Clare Cosi - the manager and co-owner of an historic Greenwich Village coffee house - wonders why Alf Glockner, a member of the Traveling Santas, is late getting to the Village Blend's "Fa-La-La-Latte" party. Clare had been hoping Alf would help lighten the mood. She was tired of all the...
- 10
The Wisconsin Saint Valentine's Day Massacre of 2011.
'Twas a dark and stormy night in February of 2011. Thousands huddled together in the state Capitol building in Madison to protest the "bomb" (his own word) dropped by the new governor on February 14th, St. Valentine's Day. The Fourteen Democratic state legislators who went on the road to protect us...
- 5
Death Loves a Messy Desk_ by Mary Jane Maffini ~~ (An Organizing Mystery). Review
This title is the third in Maffini's Charlotte Adams organizing mysteries. Charlotte is a professional organizer. She has returned to her hometown of Woodbridge, New York, after a stint in New York City. (Something about a broken engagement, and a diamond ring ending up in the Hudson.)
- 10
Ethel Clarke and Edward Beane, Newlywed Couple on the Titanic
I first found out about Ethel and Edward in 2009, when my grand-daughter's school went on a field trip to the Milwaukee Public Museum. There was a special exhibit about the Titanic. My daugher (the grand-daughter's mom) had been chaperoning the field trip, so they both came back with 3' x 5' cards...
- 6
Why Does Saint Valentine Have His Own Day?
February 14th has become hyper-commercialized, mainstream, and corporate. Yet, it was not always this way. There were many Valentines, and many of them were martyred. St. Valentine was no friend of the state, but an outsider. If you are reading this Hub during the month on February, my...
- 2
Murder of a Royal Pain, by Denise Swanson ~ A Scumble River Cozy Murder Mystery. Review
This is one Scumble River Mystery I do not recommend, because it perpetuates derogatory and harmful stereotypes regarding extremely vulnerable people who have psychological and emotional disabilities --- sometimes referred to as mental "illness". One of the main principles behind the disability...
- 15
Cooking Most Deadly, from the Angie Amalfi Series, by Joanne Pence. Review
This Hub is a general intro to a non-cozy series by Joanne Pence. The amateur detective is a food critic, Angelina Amalfi, who makes friends with --- and is protected by --- three very nice ex-cons who run a pretend restaurant. There are many great things about this series. I like Angie and her...
- 9
The Other Writing Websites
This article is about some of the frustrating experiences I have had writing for some of the other writing websites. I'm not saying they're bad for everyone, but they were certainly bad for me. I decided to stick with Hubpages, even though they've never paid me a penny ---- yet!
- 0
Murder of a Wedding Belle, A Scumble River Cozy Murder Mystery, by Denise Swanson. Book Review.
This is the twelfth in the Scumble River Mystery series. Skye has to take on the role of wedding planner when the original wedding planner is found dead in the rented flower cooler.
- 4
Imbolc, Candlemas, "Le Chandeleur"(Crepe Day) and Groundhog Day --- All Happening February Second
What is it about the second day of the second month? Are folks in certain climates beginning to wonder if they have enough to last through the winter? Are we really so different from our ancestors as we like to think? And, most important --- are we really so different from each other as we...
- 24
Why I Never Call Anyone "Mentally Ill"
A psychiatric disability is still just a disability. We are entitled to reasonable accommodation. One of the main themes of the disability rights movement is that some have different abilities. But, ours is the only difference that is considered to be an "illness". Why is that?
- 10
The Day I Called the Cops on My Apartment Manager
Have you ever had your apartment manager come up to you while you're waiting for public transportation, and shout in your face that your relative --- who didn't even live at the apartment --- was involved in a "drug deal"? Have you ever asked your apartment manager to get away from you, because she...
- 12
What's So Great About Halloween?
Ok, let's face it. ~~ Halloween is really everybody's favorite! I'm an October-philiac (is that a word?) myself. If you're also afflicted with this disorder, you'll like my Hub, I hope.
- 4
Murder of a Chocolate-Covered Cherry, by Denise Swanson. Review
Grandma Sal is not exactly as her public persona suggests. At her company's events, she looks more like a grandma than the busy corporate executive she really is. Does she know more about the murder of Cherry Alexander --- a contestant at Grandma Sal's Soup to Nuts Cooking Challenge --- than she...
- 6
Scumble River Murder Mystery Series Books, in Order
This is a general introduction to the Scumble River Murder Mystery series, featuring Skye Denison, elementary and high school psychologist, as well as amateur sleuth. Skye is a plus-sized gal who has decided to give up the diet lifestyle. Her boyfriend, Wally --- the chief of police --- doesn't...
- 0
Murder Has No Class, by Kate Kingsbury, writing as Rebecca Kent. Review.
A review of _Murder Has No Class_ by Kate Kingsbury, writing as Rebecca Kent. This is the third and last of the Bellehaven House Mystery series, featuring an amateur sleuth who is a headmistress at a girls' finishing school in the Cotswolds during the Edwardian Era. There's also the ghost of an...
- 10
What is a Cozy Murder Mystery?
If you've been wanting to know the official definition of a "cozy" mystery --- this article probably won't help much. If you've been looking for answers to your questions about how to tell a "cozy" from other kinds of mysteries --- no clue on that topic, either. However, if you like reading...
- 0
Fatal Flip, an Interior Design Murder Mystery, by Peg Marberg
This book is the third --- and last, unfortunately, as far as I can tell --- in the Interior Design series, featuring Jean Hastings and her daughter, J.R. Cusack, married to a local police officer. Jean was born in 1948, and she smokes a lot of cigarettes ---- which I found somewhat comforting,...