THE SPIRITUALIST by Megan Chance

THE SPIRITUALIST is not a cozy mystery per se -- but it is a fun, fast, and engaging mystery set in 19th Century New York City.

Evelyn Atherton's husband has been murdered, and Evie is the main suspect. To save herself, she must delve into the world of spiritualism and the occult, to determine what is real, what isn't -- and who is telling the truth, and is telling deadly lies. And who exactly is the mysterious Michel Jourdain, who claims to be a medium?

This is similar to THE ALIENIST, though not nearly as complicated or effective. I read THE SPIRITUALIST in one day -- the ending wasn't hard to figure out early on, and the writing is wonderfully breezy. I enjoyed reading this book, Evie's adventure, and I thought the ending was just right. I do wish there had been more twists and turns in the story, but overall, this is a "thumbs up" read, and I think you'll enjoy it.

BEST SERVED COLD by Jimmie Ruth Evans

Okay, now this is getting addictive. This series is really fun, and each one is like eating a delicious root beer float -- you love it while you're eating it, and you hate to see it end because it was so delicious.

Book three in the Trailer Park Mystery series, starring one Wanda Nell Culpepper, brings back all of the characters we are coming to know and love -- and it also brings us a new character, Wanda Nell's brother, whom she hasn't heard from since her mama died years before. She and Rusty used to be close as kids, but now they just can't sem to get along. Wanda Nell wants them to get close again, but Rusty has something bothering him, and he just won't open up about it. Next thing you know, a man is dead, Rusty is the suspect, and Wanda Nell kicks into high gear.

Miranda is still troublesome, Juliet is still wonderful, TJ and Tuck are still together, and Wanda Nell's best friend is still packing a rifle!

This is a highly recommended cozy series!

(Jimmie Ruth Evans is a pseudonym for Dean James, who wrote a wonderful mysery series for Kensington. He also writes as Honor Hartman, and I just ordered book 2 in the Bridge Club mystery series -- will write about that as soon as I devour it!).

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