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The Catalina Cahoots: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden

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Paradise Gone Wrong!
Catalina Island, 1932, a palm tree paradise 26 miles across the sea from Los Angeles. Sparky, our eleven-year-old former street punk and unlikely amateur sleuth, thinks this spot looks pretty nice.
But it doesn’t take long for paradise to go wrong with murder and mayhem!
It’s crazy times on an even crazier movie set… where a body becomes an unexpected prop! What the heck is going on with the fake royalty? The runaway mayor of Los Angeles?
Can smart-mouthed Sparky untangle this insanity and discover whodunit? Or will she get in trouble… yet again?
With this fifth book in the “Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery” series, the gang gets together again: Sparky, her buddies, Tootsie her silent screen star guardian, Tootsie’s mysterious assistant Gilbert, secretive Doctor, along with Bookie and the rest of the crooks.
With everyone in the mix, there’s bound to be hilarious chaos!
The Sparky of Bunker Hill Mysteries are a fun read for middle school tweens to grown-ups who love cozy, historical mysteries with a dash of wacky noir.
“The Catalina Cahoots” mystery can be read as a standalone or enjoyed with the rest of the series: “The Cold Kid Case,” “The Cannibal Caper,” “The Monkey Island Murder,” and “The South Seas Shenanigans.” Coming next is “The Hollywood Haunt.”
“Zowie! Make time to hang with Sparky, amateur detective of Bunker Hill. You’ll be glad you did!” – Diane Vallere, national bestselling author of the “Madison Night Mystery Series”

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Rosalind Barden has long been fascinated by the history of Los Angeles’s lost noir neighborhood, Bunker Hill. Cold Kid Case, the first in her zany, 1930s Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery series has been awarded multiple accolades, including the Firebird Book Award 1st Place for Cozy Mysteries and the Literary Titan Gold Medal Book Award. Over thirty of her short mystery and horror stories have been published, including her inspiration for the Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery series, “The Monkey’s Ghost,” part of the FAPA President’s Book Awards Silver Medalist anthology, History and Mystery, Oh My! She writes and continues to explore lost history in Los Angeles. Discover more at RosalindBarden.com.

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The Melody of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries) by N.L. Holmes

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The Melody of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries) by N.L. Holmes
Hosted by Itsy Bitsy Book Bits
Genre – Historical Cozy Mystery
Page Count – 313
Cover Designer – Streetlight Graphics

Neferet sets out to hire musicians for her stepdaughter’s party, only to find that one of them has been murdered. The perpetrator could be a member of the musical family itself… but the main suspect is the guest of honor’s husband, Neferet’s favorite relative-in-law! This investigation will take her and her colleagues into the heart of the Theban underworld, and they may not get out alive.

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Click here to view the Book Trailer for The Melody of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries) by N.L. Holmes

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N.L. Holmes is the pen name of a professional archaeologist who received her doctorate from Bryn Mawr College. She has excavated in Greece and in Israel and taught ancient history and humanities at the university level for many years. She has always had a passion for books, and in childhood, she and her cousin (also a writer today) used to write stories for fun.

Author Interview with N.L. Holmes

Lights, Camera, Murder!! by Kimberly Mullins

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Lights, Camera, Murder!! by Kimberly Mullins
Hosted by Itsy Bitsy Book Bits
Genre – Historical Cozy Mystery
Page Count – 347
Cover Designer – More Visual Design
Sisters Jean and Merle Cooper have limited time to change the direction of their lives. A scandal and police pursuit force them on the road to Hollywood California in 1913. Hollywood is bustling with people; movies are being made and Jean and Merle need jobs. Jean can’t help but wish that one particular policeman she left behind, Patrick Flannigan, was a part of their new lives.
Merle wants to support her sister and help her achieve her dream of being a stunt woman, but her life choices could affect both her and Jean’s burgeoning careers. Excitement follows the two sisters and reunites them with Patrick as secrets are uncovered. Lives could be changed with events involving sabotage and murder.

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Kimberly Mullins is the author of a series of books called “Notebook Mysteries”. Her serie is based on historical events occurring in 1880-1890’s Chicago. Her standalone books are based in the 1912-1913 New York and California.  She lives in Texas with her husband and son. When she is not writing she works as a Process Safety Engineer at a large chemical company. You can connect with her on her website at kimberlymullinsauthor.com, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Dressing Up A Corpse (A Spicetown Thanksgiving Cozy Mystery) by Sheri Richey

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Genre – Cozy Mystery
Page Count – 308
Cover Designer – Tina Adams from CozyCovered
When a hunting expedition doesn’t go as expected and family comes for a holiday visit, having good aim is important.
 Mayor Cora Mae Bingham is planning a Thanksgiving dinner for the entire town of Spicetown! What could possibly go wrong?

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf review by Crystal Beadles

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cute book for kids! My boys would’ve loved this series when they were younger. Camp has started out rainy and boring, now a missing trophy stands to threaten the fun games. Can Dylan and his trusty detective kit find who stole it? Tag along for the adventure and friendship, and learn the surprising reason the trophy was taken! This book is part a series but completely stands on its on as well.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn: An Ariadne Winter Murder MysteryInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn: An Ariadne Winter Murder Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was more Princess Bride meets Agatha Christie. A reporter, Ariadne, is sent to a small European Nation to interview the fiancée of the prince. There are layers of intrigue in the relationship of the star with the prince. On parallel lines, the Inn where she stays witnesses a murder. Nothing is what it seems to be. There are people with deep secrets, many motives for murder. Who did the murder. It is upto the police and Ariadne to solve the mystery. It is a fast paced story, I did feel it a little bogged down in between, but otherwise I liked it.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. Being written during a time when women weren’t exactly at the forefront career wise made this a really intriguing mystery. I found the premise to be strong. The mystery was entertaining to figure out. I had to work to solve it and I enjoyed the twists in the story. It was a very well written story with a strong FMC.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story. Being written during a time when women weren’t exactly at the forefront career wise made this a really intriguing mystery. I found the premise to be strong. The mystery was entertaining to figure out. I had to work to solve it and I enjoyed the twists in the story. It was a very well written story with a strong FMC.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Julie Johnson

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great historical fiction read with a bit of an Agatha Christie vibe. Ariadne (love this name!) wants so desperately to be an investigative journalist. However, this is set in 1958 when women were expected to have a far more different role than the women of today. A unique situation presents itself for Ariadne and she’s able to be a journalist, but is it going to be without controversary? You can bet not!

A very enjoyable read by an author that I’m becoming more familiar with. I’ve read two other books of hers that I’ve enjoyed. This is the first book in a new series and I look forward to reading more!

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill MysteryThe South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love getting to read about Sparky’s different adventures and the author does a great job of making each one feel fresh and original. This time she is stowed away on a cruise ship, she thought was headed for the South Seas, but it turns out to be filled with silent movie stars! She is mistaken for someone else and forced to be the lead in the all-girls chorus. As always, Sparky somehow manages to get involved with a mystery surrounding her mistaken identity as well as a passenger going overboard. The author continues to write vivid tales that really make you feel like you are back in the 1930’s and experiencing that Sparky is. The story continues to have well written characters that are easy to imagine and connect with. Another well written and researched cozy mystery from the author in a series you will want to keep reading.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Debbie Best

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn: An Ariadne Winter Murder MysteryInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn: An Ariadne Winter Murder Mystery by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s the winter of 1958, and our heroine, Ariadne (Greek “Most Holy”) is a fresh ingénue chafing to transition her writing skills from the fluff pieces of Ladies Lifestyle Magazine to investigative journalism. Her editor sends her on a week-long quest to obtain an interview with the lovely Donna Morgan, a Grace Kelly-esque star who is set to marry the prince of a small European nation. Intrigue follows as the journalistic relationship with the star is established and immediately tested.

Simultaneously, young Ariadne is thrust into the midst of intrigue and murder at the Ivy Tree Inn, the establishment where her aunt has booked her stay. It seems that everyone she has contact with at the Inn has some sort of deep, dark secret. All come crashing to a head when the establishment’s proprietor winds up dead. Who did it – the guest with a long-standing hatred for the manager’s mother? The couple to whom the deceased owed money. It is up to the hapless police and our heroine to solve the mystery.

Unfolding from multiple perspectives the story moves at a fairly rapid pace and is occasionally a bit bogged down with too much detail. However, if you are looking for a cozy mystery to fill a winter day, this will fit the bill.

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden – Review by Samantha Cleaver

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky #4)The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book continues with Sparky trying to run away from her problems. This time she attempts to board a cruise ship. She overhears much gossip about one particular music director that everyone seems to detest.

This is written in the depression era and once again Barden’s descriptions are marvelous. This book has comical aspects to it as well and you’ll want to keep reading to see what happens next!

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf is Book Three in the Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series. It is a children’s chapter book full of mystery, adventure, crime, family, friendship, and fun. The story centers around a young boy by the name of Dylan who does not go anywhere without his junior detective kit, that he keeps on an old tool belt around his waist. Along with him on the adventures is his younger sister Emily, who helps him solve each new mystery and his trusty sidekick, his dog Theodore. Dylan, Emily, and Theodore are trying to solve the mystery of the missing Camp Leaf trophy that has been replaced by a moss-covered rock. Determined to solve the mystery, the trio follow the trail of clues to discover there is a long list of potential suspects. This is a great little chapter book for children ages 5 to 9 years of age that are just maybe learning how to read chapter books for the first time. It has a few illustrations mixed in to help bring the story to life. A great book that will teach children about problem solving, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray – Review by Tausha Treadway

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray. I love this cute series and even though this is the 3rd book in the series it can be read as a standalone. My 6 year old nephew loves these stories. Its the continuing story of Dylan, his little sister Emily and his dog. Dylan has a detective kit and he never leaves home without it. When they go camping and the Camp Leaf Trophy goes missing, Dylan,his dog Theodore, other friends and his sister are on the case. This book is perfect of the young child learning to read and it has amazing resources for teachers that can be printed out as well. This would make a great family time book to read and would be the perfect gift for older elementary kids that are learning to read chapter books. We loved it.

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray – Review by Karole Petty

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What wonderful story! Enjoyed the story, characters and the fact that there is downloadable material for classroom learning. It was quick read and any beginning reader can read. Loved that anyone one book in the series can be read in any order without missing a beat! I will be recommending to anyone with kids, especially ones just starting on their reading journey!

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden – Review by Betsy Melano

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky #4)The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Eleven year old Sparky is on a new adventure, finding a place that’s hopefully safer but her luck seems to be on the wrong side. As always, I enjoy reading about Sparks’s life and all the adventures she seems to get into. This 4th book in the series doesn’t disappoint. The world built by the author is spot on and the characters that are around Sparky help make thieve books fun to read.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn was an action packed book that I’m glad to have read. The cover did not draw me in, and had it not been for reading this author previously, I likely wouldn’t have picked this book up. There were a lot of characters with overlapping history and at first I had a hard time keeping them straight. I still don’t know how to pronounce the main character’s name! We know early on there is a death but don’t know who was the victim or who committed the crime. I think the author did a good job of slowly uncovering the story and maintaining the mystery until the end. I was quite invested in seeing how it ended and be sure to read to the verrrry end. I was fascinated when I read the pages after the story concluded, and learned the story is loosely based on historical events and people. Not that I have any idea who they are, but still fun to learn.

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray – Review by Candice Estes

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the 3rd in the Young Sleuths Chapter Book series, but can be read as a stand-alone if you choose to. Dylan is a little boy who has a detective kit, a trusty dog and a younger sister as a side-kick to help him solve all kinds of mysteries. In this particular story, Dylan and his younger sister, Emily, are camping with their family when the Camp Leaf golden trophy comes up missing. Dylan and Emily and their dog, Theodore, set off to try to find it, with other friends along the way. This book is great for young children just learning to read on their own, or for parents or teachers to read to the youngsters in their lives. The story is cute, and the illustrations are fun to look at. Join Dylan, Emily, Theodore and their friends on an adventure to solve who stole the Camp Leaf golden trophy, but remember, be careful who you trust!

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Devon Pulliam

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was such a great read! Ariadne is the girl trying to get a job in a man’s world, as an investigative reporter. She’s at a women’s magazine and scores the scoop on the commoner marrying the Prince!

Little does she know the article she went to write won’t be her only one and she’s in for a ride! Her aunt gets her a room at the local Inn. Ariadne can’t turn off her reporter instincts while at the Inn. She is on the property with a few other couples that are all old friends.

When things start happening on the property Ariadne finds herself knee deep in trying to find out who is behind the mysterious happenings… then a murder happens.

Will she solve it before the police? Will this get her the write up in a prestigious paper that she wants? Will she become the investigative reporter she wants to be?

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill MysteryThe South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love getting to read about Sparky’s different adventures and the author does a great job of making each one feel fresh and original. This time she is stowed away on a cruise ship, she thought was headed for the South Seas, but it turns out to be filled with silent movie stars! She is mistaken for someone else and forced to be the lead in the all-girls chorus. As always, Sparky somehow manages to get involved with a mystery surrounding her mistaken identity as well as a passenger going overboard. The author continues to write vivid tales that really make you feel like you are back in the 1930’s and experiencing that Sparky is. The story continues to have well written characters that are easy to imagine and connect with. Another well written and researched cozy mystery from the author in a series you will want to keep reading.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Mandy Ott

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ellen Butler is a first time author for me, but I can’t wait to read more of her books! Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn is a cozy mystery full of drama, intrigue, secrets, murder, and a nod to historical events. The world building is great, allowing the reader to be transported to 1958, where our strong main character, Ariadne Winter, finds herself in the middle of a reunion of sorts. The other guests at the Ivy Tree Inn are all connected to the owner. The characters are all realistic, believable, and oddly lovable. The story did start off a bit slow, but picked up fairly quickly. Overall, a great, medium-paced read, full of interesting characters, many secrets to be had, and lots of twists and turn. I was left guessing till the very end! I look forward to reading more books by Ellen Butler.

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray – Review by Nina Maes

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This is a fun story with problem solving and character building. Very engaging and a fast read. Can be read as a stand alone or with the series. I recommend this book for early readers and teachers to read out loud.Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fun story with problem solving and character building. Very engaging and a fast read. Can be read as a stand alone or with the series. I recommend this book for early readers and teachers to read out loud.

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray – Review by Krista Moulthrop

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray

Dylan, his sister, and their dog have been at camp for a few days and still haven’t had much fun due to some bad weather. When it finally clears up and they can start on camp games, they realize the camp trophy has been stolen. Dylan takes on this case with his trusty detective kit and his list of suspects grows and grows until suddenly the trophy reappears. This was a fun and engaging mystery story for kids. Can’t wait to read more from this series.

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Brandy Vaughn

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Each chapter of this book is from the view point of a character. This brings the backstory of the characters together. I was so engrossed in the story that I forgot about the mystery it started with! Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Inn has a strong female lead that I enjoy connecting with. There are several phrases and words that I had to look up due to not knowing the meaning. When reading the novel, I wasn’t sure what time period the seeing was in. There were some hints with fashion and some character actions that reminded me this is more of a historical cozy mystery. I read the novel in one sitting and enjoyed it.

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden – Review by Jennifer Gordon

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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery (Sparky #4)The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having read and enjoyed the previous books in this series of historical cozy mysteries, I was looking forward to this latest instalment. I was excited to be back with the extremely likeable eleven year old amateur sleuth Sparky. Once again the Depression era of the 1930’s was brought vividly to life through the descriptive narrative, and added historical details. Our heroine Sparky has stowed away on an ocean liner and is out at sea. When she is discovered she becomes involved in a dangerous case of mistaken identity. Meanwhile, the other passengers appear to be ex-silent movie actors heading off to revive their careers in a mysterious film project. Sparky is missing both her guardian Tootsie and even her ex-boss Bookie, and wonders if she will ever see them again. Sparky must investigate when a passenger tumbles overboard under strange circumstances, and the other passengers become suspicious of her. This humorous mystery adventure once again kept me hooked throughout. I love Sparky as the main character and hope she will be back with a new adventure soon!

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Bobbi Wagner

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an author that I have enjoyed reading from the first book I picked up by her. I enjoy how she brings her creative characters to life which keeps me engaged throughout. This is a well written story about Ariadne and her determination to be an investigative reporter. What happens when the opportunity appears for her? Will she lose more than just her job if she doesn’t figure out this mystery? I enjoyed this character and what she added to the story. She pulled me into her world from the start and I found myself routing for her to solve this mystery. I enjoyed watching her growth as well as the other characters throughout. This is an easy, fast paced, entertaining story to read and one you don’t want to miss. I highly recommend this book and this author.

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray – Review by Heather Bass

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read a few of these books to my son and we love them. This is the third book to the awesome youth Sleuths series. . You could read it as a stand alone because they are so much more fun when you read them together. This story was so much fun to read it only took us about an hour to finish this book. I can’t wait to read more in this series.

Dylan and his little sister go to camp. He is not too excited especially when it rains for a few days straight. Dylan always brings his detective kit and his trusty dog Theodore wherever he goes. He is getting really bored until Mrs. Fan announces there will be some fun games and the winner will get a cool trophy. When Mrs. Fan reveals the trophy is gone and a rock is in its place. Dylan is so excited to solve this mystery. He needs some help from some of his old friends as well as some new friends. Will Dylan and Emily figure out who took the trophy and why?

Review by @heatherbass
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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ink and Intrigue at the Ivy Tree Inn is an Ariadne Winter Mystery. Ariadne is a young reporter who aspires to investigative journalism but is working her way up at a women’s magazine. She gets an opportunity for a big interview, then finds an even bigger opportunity when she discovers a body.

I like the 1950s setting of this story and there’s a great cast of supporting characters. It’s fun learning how everyone’s connected and what dirt they have on each other. If you’re a fan of gossip, you’ll enjoy discovering what history different characters have with each other and how that’s motivating them now.

The perspective shifts from Ariadne’s first person to a third person that gives the perspectives of different characters, including some of what they’re thinking. This is interesting as it means we have some information Ariadne does not as we try to work out what really happened.

This book gets four stars from me. I have enjoyed other books by this author and would recommend this to fans of her work, as well as readers looking for another historical mystery to solve!

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn (Ariadne Winter Mystery Series) by Ellen Butler – Review by Kerry Baker

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Ink and Intrigue at Ivy Tree InnInk and Intrigue at Ivy Tree Inn by Ellen Butler

This book is another great story by and author that really knows how to get your attention! This is a murder mystery story set in the 1950’s. I loved this as it felt so different to any other murder mystery book I have read recently. Ariadne was the perfect character to match the story too. Her personality really made me connect with the book and I was behind her the whole way.
The story is well written and an overall interesting read. The author knew just when to push the story on and when to hold back for the investment. I enjoyed this book from the moment I started reading and would recommend it to any fan and the genre

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Lake (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series) by MJ Murray Reviewed by Phylis Carpenter October 2024

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 3)Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dylan and his sister Emily were at Camp Leaf waiting for the annual event to start. Every year they come and play the different games that the camp sets up so they can win prizes and the trophy. Now they are lifting the cover to see what this year’s trophy looks like to find that it has disappeared.

Now Detective Dylan and his Assistant Emily will be checking out clues and solving the mystery of who took the trophy. Until the mystery is solved and the trophy is returned the games will not begin.

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