Two things I love, cozy mysteries and audiobooks. Put them both together and I am a happy camper. Over the last week, the weather has been so warm, that I have spent almost all day outside cleaning up my yard and garden, painting my fence, putting away my summer furniture and decorations etc. These are three of the audiobooks I listened to during that time. All were provided to me upon request. The ratings and opinions shared are my own.

Paw and Order: Dog Club Mystery, Book 4Paw and Order (Dog Club Mystery #4) by V.M. Burns, Narrated by Madison Vaughn

Published August 11th 2020 by Lyrical Press/Kensington Publishing, October 13th 2020 by Tantor Medio

4.5 Stars:

With this being the 4th book in the Dog Club Mystery series, I was expecting a fun story, but this one was the best so far. In this story, Dixie has arranged a fundraiser for the Eastern Tennessee Poodle Rescue, and has convinced eccentric billionaire Archibald Lowry to sponsor it. He is also considering the rescue as a beneficiary of his estate when he dies as he has not children. When he is killed at the fundraiser, things get shutdown. As his will is shared, it becomes confusing as to who is responsible for his death and is this the real will??

I love both Dixie and Lilly. They are strong and independent women so love dogs, a lot. Lilly takes on Archibald’s little poodle, who she renames Rex until the will is probated and his ownership is cleared up. I love the dogs in these books. They are smart, they are fearless, they are loved and they often help to solve the crime. Once again, Lilly’s daughter Stephanie also makes an appearance, but is having man troubles. She is not sure about her relationship with Joe and takes up with a smooth talking, handsome lawyer in this one. Lilly and Red’s relationship continues to grow and I enjoy seeing this development to the series. They do work well together, even though it is reluctantly as Lilly doesn’t listen to him. I was pretty sure who was doing the killing, but there was a good twist that had me questioning myself. The motive was awesome. I’m never disappointed with V.M. Burns books. Her plot, character development and humour are all well developed and will keep any cozy mystery lover happy. I listened to the audiobook of this one, narrated by Madison Vaughn. She has narrated all the books in this series and has given voice to Lilly, Dixie and the other characters that I have grown to know and love. With her tone and expression, I enjoyed her performance.

55882021. sx318 Double Trouble (Davis Way Crime Caper #9) by Gretchen Archer, Amber Benson (Narrator)

Published June 9th 2020 by Henery Press, October 13th 2020 by Tantor Audio
 
4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really enjoy this series for several reasons. The first is that it makes me laugh. It is silly, over the top in many cases, yet, there is a crime to be solved. This 9th book in the series finds Davis only working part time, having been fired from her job as Bianca’s double. She is only working a few hours a day in security, but with her husband and boss, no-hair, out of town, she is left in charge. The crime is a bit strange in this one. Apparently there was a wire transfer sent to the Bellissimo by mistake. Somehow, the amount sent ended up in cash in a duffel bag that then ended up in lost & found. From there is disappeared. It was all a bit hard to follow, but suffice it to say, Davis and Fantasy had to find the cash. With Davis’s mom coming to look after the twins, you know there is going to be something happening. She not only brings Bea, Davis’ ex-mother-in-law, but prize tomato plants that have to be looked after. I love the audiobooks of this series. The narrator, Amber Benson, does a wonderful job with the voices of the various characters. She adds even more humour to the stories with her expression and tone. If you enjoy a fun story, a cozy mystery that will have you laughing, then pick up Double Trouble. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

Dead-End Detective (Piper and Porter Mystery, #1)

Dead-End Detective (Piper and Porter Mystery #1) by Amanda Flower, Narrated by Laura Faye Smith

Published August 25th 2020 by Hallmark Publishing, Dreamscape LLC

4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amanda Flower is one of my favourite Cozy Mystery Authors. I was quite excited to see that she was writing a new series, and was ready to read or listen to this one. Darby Piper and Samantha Porter are the owners of Two Girls Detective Agency. Darby is upset that Samantha has decided to sell the company as being the 60% partner, she has the right to do so. She is still stewing when she gets the call that Samantha has been killed in a car accident. It is quickly determined that it wasn’t an accident but she was run off the road, and all evidence points to Darby.

Dead-End Detective is an easy and enjoyable read. The story was well-written with an interesting mystery. There were just enough red herrings and suspects to keep you guessing. I enjoyed the small-town setting and characters, with Darby and Tate developing a friendship and partnership that has some chemistry. This was a great first book in a new series and I will definitely be watching for the next Piper and Porter Mystery. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Laura Faye Smith. She is a new narrator to me and I was pleased with her performance. She had good expression, voices and tone. I hope she continues to narrate this series.