November 2025's Reading Summary

As December dawns, let's take a look back at what I read in November.  I had some time after getting back from Thanksgiving, so I got the index updated.

The links will take you to my full review.  All ratings are on a scale of 1 (bad) to 5 (great).

 

Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron (Vintage Cookbook Mysteries #4) – 5

Ricki James-Diaz is thrilled her parents are in town for Christmas.  She’s hoping that she and her mom and use the time to track down more of Ricki’s birth family.  But when one of her mom’s former co-workers is killed right after Ricki meets her, murder takes center stage.  As more of Ricki’s family and friends come under suspicious, she can’t help but jump in.  Will she find the killer?

It was great to be back with Ricki and her family and friends.  They are a fun bunch, and we met some new characters I hope we see again.  There are some spoilers for previous books’ ongoing storylines, but they are minor.  There are several subplots in addition to the main mystery, so I was never bored.  Yet everything was balanced well and we reached a satisfying climax.  I did find a couple of small things that should have been caught by an edit, but they are minor.  I loved the Christmas setting of the book for both the humor and the coziness it brought.  And we get some appropriate recipes at the end of the book.  Whether you read this book now or save it for December, you’ll be glad you read it.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

The Devil Comes Calling by Annette Dashofy (Detective Honeywell Mysteries #3) – 5

Detective Matthias Honeywell is called to the scene of a double homicide. The victims were found in a home being renovated and were shot execution style. One of them was Emma Anderson’s predecessor as a crime beat photographer for ErieLIVE. While Honeywell conducts his investigation, Emma begins to wonder if a co-worker is involved. But with a complication from Honeywell’s past in town, will that distract him from the case?

While it’s been two years for us since the previous book, it’s only been a few weeks for the characters. I recommend you read the previous book because this one picks up a storyline from that book; I wish I’d had time to reread it myself. Also, keep in mind this is a police procedural, not one of the cozies I often read and you’ll be fine. As always, this book started strongly and kept getting better. I was hooked long before I reached the logical yet surprising climax. Honeywell gets some very nice backstory here, and Emma continues to be a strong second viewpoint characters. The switches between the two are always easy to follow. The suspects are strong, and I’m happy to see the supporting characters continue to grow. This book was worth the wait. Dive into this series today. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Player Elimination by Shelly Jones (Wren Winters Mysteries #1) – 3

Wren Winters is running the game story she and her late husband started in a small college town. Her biggest issue is her landlord, who is talking about doing something new with her building despite the fact that he uses the game store to try out new solo games himself. But one morning she arrives at the store to find the police there. Someone has murdered her landlord. But who?

I’ve gotten back into games the last couple of years, so I was hoping this would be a good cozy mystery with that theme. Sadly, it needed just a bit more. There is one character who uses they/them pronouns that I found distracting, but that’s probably mostly on me. Overall, the characters were a little flat. The mystery was uneven, although the ending was good. Even the games Wren and her friends played didn’t give us the details I was hoping to enjoy. Sadly, I don’t think I’ll continue this series. 

 

This Way to Murder by Shelley Shearer (Board Game Cafe Mysteries #1) – 3

Remi McKenna is hosting a letterboxing event with some friends in the town where she is planning to move. Along for the ride is her best friend, Trace Cooper. However, Trace has brought a problem with her. She’s been getting some weird texts and phone calls recently, and it appears her potential stalker has followed her. Can Remi juggle the event she is running with trying to figure out if her best friend is truly in danger?

This debut had some promise to it. I really did enjoy the main characters, for example. The supporting characters tended to blend together for me. While the letterboxing event was fun, I was expecting a bit more about the board game cafe instead of it being a subplot. The pacing for the mystery is a bit off, but things made sense when we reached the end. I’d consider giving a second in the series a chance, but I’d hope some of these kinks would be worked out. 

 

Framed! by James Ponti (Framed! #1) – 4

Florian Bates and his family have just moved to Washington DC, where his parents have landed jobs at the National Gallery.  Florian is building a friendship with his neighbor, Margaret, before they both start middle school.  But when the National Gallery is robbed, they realize they might have some vital information.  Can they use their observations to figure out the crime.

This book starts with an exciting scene near the climax before flashing us back to the beginning, a storytelling style I don’t like.  And the book took a bit longer with the set up than I normally enjoy.  Here, I did find watching Florian and Margaret build their friendship fun.  The mystery itself is good with some nice developments before we reach the climax.  I also enjoyed the homage to Sherlock Holmes in Florian’s ability to observe the small things.  Readers of all ages will find the pages turning all too quickly.  I’m hoping I can read the next two soon.

 

Catering to the Dead by Kim Davis (Cupcake Catering Mysteries #8) – 4

Emory Martinez is providing the cupcakes for a Dia de los Muertos party. She’s also helping out her sister, who is providing the rest of the food. But as Emory is cleaning up after the event, she finds a member of the Mariachi band under the dessert table. She doesn’t consider this a case she needs to get involved in until the hosts keep trying to point the finger at her. Can she find another killer?

When I saw we were getting a new entry in this series, I jumped at a chance to read it. While the setting may not be traditionally cozy, I really enjoy it. And the characters help pull us in. I enjoyed spending time with Emory and her family and friends as always. The pacing was a little off early, and the end left me with a minor question, but overall, the mystery was enjoyable. Plus we get nine recipes and two craft ideas. Whether new to the series or a longtime fan, you’ll be glad you picked up this book. 

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book. 

 

Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna (Stella and Lyndy Mysteries #7) – 4

Stella and Lyndy are in Montana visiting Stella’s mother and the dig site where Lyndy’s father is spending the summer of 1906 looking for fossils.  Not too long after the couple arrives, the night watchman for the dig dies.  While the local coroner is quick to rule it an accident, Stella thinks there might be more to it.  If she is right, how can Lyndy and Stella prove it?

It was natural that Stella and Lyndy would wind up in the US at some point instead of England, where the earlier books were set. This different setting allowed us to see a different side of Lyndy.  Between that and the continuation of character arcs from earlier in the series, I liked the character growth we got.  Sadly, many of the regulars didn’t make the trip, and I did miss them.  The new characters, while good suspects, weren’t the same.  The mystery is a bit uneven, partially because it tries to do a bit too much.  I did have one issue that I didn’t feel was resolved, but overall, I was satisfied with the ending.  While this may not be the best book to jump into the series with, it is one that fans will still enjoy.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

Paradise Plagued by Sarah E. Burr (Court of Mystery #6) – 4

Jax, her new husband, and her closest friends are escaping to the Ogdam Oasis for a much-deserved vacation. She is going under an assumed name in a hope to truly be able to relax. However, Jax finds a dead body their first night there. When some things at the scene don’t add up, Jax determines that it was murder. Can she find a way to bring about justice without giving away who she really is?

It was longer than I intended before I returned to this series, but it was good to visit Jax again.  All my favorite characters made the trip with her, and some of the others did get mentioned.  Updates on the politics of the realm in the months since we last visited Jax slowed down the beginning, but I got caught up in the mystery once it really got going.  I did figure one thing out early, but I was hooked all the way until the logical solution.  A few of the characters didn’t come fully alive for me, but that was due to their limited page time.  This story does move the series into a new direction, and I’m anxious to see what comes next.  Fans will be glad they read this book and be ready for the next when they set this one down.

 

Fallen Star by Lee Goldberg (Eve Ronin #6) – 4

LA County Sheriff Detective Eve Ronin and her partner are called to the scene of a body found in the Malibu Lagoon. Of course, it couldn’t be a body floating in the water. That would be too easy. In this case, the body was found floating in a fifty-five-gallon drum. What’s even more shocking is that Eve recognizing the victim. With his ties to some of the most powerful people in the county, can she find the killer without getting impacted by the politics of the case?

This book does contain some heavy spoilers for earlier stories in the series by necessity, but there is enough background you could jump in here. And what a wild ride it is. The plot spins in some unexpected directions, but I believed it all on the way to the logical climax. The characters are a little thin, but I do care about them. And I appreciate the depth we did get for Eve. The banter between the characters was fun, and the locker room humor was kept to a minimum. The violence was a little more than in the books I typically read. I’m ready for the next already, and fans of the series will be glad they picked this one up.