Enjoy 3 Small Town Cozies with Serenity Bay Mysteries 4-5-6

Serenity Bay Mysteries 4-5-6
Author: J.J. Brass
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Word Count: 115,000
Ebook ISBN: 9798233631160

Join amateur sleuth Lucy Larkin as she solves murders in Serenity Bay, the quaint little town she calls home. This charming box set includes books four, five, and six in the beloved Serenity Bay Mysteries series.

In Murder by Christmas, Lucy attends a festive gathering with the cast and crew of Serenity Bay's beloved holiday musical. When a winter snowstorm traps everyone inside, the partygoers make the best of it, but the evening takes a chilling turn when murder rocks the celebration. As hidden secrets are revealed, Lucy finds herself entangled in a web of love, lies, and unexpected motives. With no way in or out, it's up to her to unravel the truth and expose the murderer among them.

In Mind Over Murder, psychic medium Gabriel Kolter descends upon the town, offering his otherworldly insights to curious residents. Little does he know that this visit will lead to his own demise. With suspects aplenty and a town full of secrets, Lucy navigates the tangled relationships of Serenity Bay's residents. Will she uncover the killer's identity before Valentine's Day is forever stained with the shadows of a chilling murder?

Finally, in Murder in a Pickle, When an injunction is issued against the local pickleball club for exceeding legal noise levels, club members are irate. And when the man who initiated the injunction is found dead, the idyllic community is thrown into turmoil. As the close-knit pickleball club rallies to clear their name, Lucy pieces together a puzzle that reveals a web of deception and hidden motives.

Brimming with wit and warmth, this collection is a treat for lovers of cozy mysteries, charming small towns, and delightfully quirky characters. Come back to Serenity Bay, where every corner hides a secret and every mystery is just waiting to unfold.

Buy Now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GNTXCHTR?tag=dorishay-20
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=zfvBEQAAQBAJ
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/serenity-bay-mysteries-4-5-6/id6759294308

Find Serenity Bay Mysteries 4-5-6 at many more retailers using the Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/u/4jkMoo

It's also available in Large Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GP18Q79B?tag=dorishay-20

There's also an audio version: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAEBavC78ZM

 

Subscribe to our mailing list

Murder in a Pickle: Serenity Bay #Mysteries Book 6 #NewRelease #SmallTown #Pickleball #Quozy #Cozy #Mystery

Murder in a Pickle
Series: Serenity Bay Mysteries
Book: 6
Author: J.J. Brass
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Word Count: 47,000
Ebook ISBN: 9798224068296

Serenity Bay is known for its peaceful atmosphere, charming shops, and spirited pickleball games. When an injunction is issued against the pickleball club for exceeding legal noise levels, club members are irate. And when the man who initiated the injunction is found dead, the idyllic community is thrown into turmoil.

Lucy Larkin, a resourceful amateur sleuth, finds herself at the heart of the investigation as secrets begin to surface. With the help of her quirky Uncle Frank, a fife-playing florist, Lucy uncovers more than she bargained for. From a mysterious toxicology report to a stolen journal, clues lead them deep into the victim’s complicated life.

As the close-knit pickleball club rallies to clear their name, Lucy pieces together a puzzle that reveals a web of deception and hidden motives. Friendships are tested and new alliances formed.

Murder in a Pickle is a captivating cozy mystery filled with eccentric characters, heartwarming moments, and a twisty plot that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of small-town mysteries and amateur sleuths with a knack for solving crimes, this delightful tale will leave you craving more adventures in Serenity Bay.

Read Murder in a Pickle by J.J. Brass today!

Get it from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D57R7C48
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=PqoKEQAAQBAJ

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-a-pickle-j-j-brass/1145655820?ean=2940180035257
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/murder-in-a-pickle
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/murder-in-a-pickle/id6503297487

Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/736981833/Murder-in-a-Pickle-Serenity-Bay-Mysteries-6
Fable: https://fable.co/book/x-9798224068296

Find links for the paperback, hardcover, audiobook, and other retailers with the Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RDKXx

Subscribe to our mailing list

Serenity Bay Mysteries 1-2-3 #CozyMystery #BoxSet

Serenity Bay Mysteries 1-2-3
Author: J.J. Brass
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Word Count: 90,000
Ebook ISBN: 9798224928781
Paperback ISBN: 9798224593286

Join amateur sleuth Lucy Larkin as she solves murders in Serenity Bay, the quaint little town she calls home. This charming box set includes the first three books in the beloved Serenity Bay Mysteries series.

In Murder Over the Rainbow, Lucy finds herself entangled in a murder investigation when local artist Marcus Briggs is found dead at the site of a proposed rainbow crosswalk. Teaming up with the surly yet endearing Detective Johnson, Lucy navigates a town filled with colorful characters, secrets, and suspects aplenty.

In Murder by the Books, Lucy and her uncle Frank stumble upon an unfinished manuscript that leads them to suspect a real-life murder. Join them as they unravel the mystery with the help of quirky characters, including new friends and an insightful librarian.

Finally, in Murder by Night, Lucy, now working as a local florist, finds her quiet life disrupted once again. Can she and Detective Johnson solve a series of muggings before deadly crimes are committed?

Filled with heaps of humor and heart, this collection is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, small-town comforts, and eccentric characters. Get ready for a relaxing journey through Serenity Bay, where secrets abound and mysteries await.

Get the Hardcover at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2L8WJ7L?tag=dorishay-20

Get the Ebook at Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=ZcEDEQAAQBAJ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2JMBMTK?tag=dorishay-20

DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/478542/Serenity-Bay-Mysteries-123

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/serenity-bay-mysteries-1-2-3-jj-brass/1145467295

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/serenity-bay-mysteries-1-2-3

Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/u/38JnRd

Subscribe to our mailing list

Mind Over Murder: Serenity Bay #Mysteries Book 5 #NewRelease #SmallTown #Quozy #Cozy #Mystery

Mind Over Murder
Author: J.J. Brass
Series: Serenity Bay Mysteries
Book: 5
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Word Count: 36,000
Ebook ISBN: 9798223325154

Visit the quaint town of Serenity Bay, where gossip travels faster than the speed of love. 

Valentine's Day takes an unexpected turn in "Mind Over Murder," the latest installment of the Serenity Bay Mysteries by J.J. Brass.

When psychic medium Gabriel Kolter descends upon the town, offering his otherworldly insights to curious residents, little does he know that this visit will lead to his own demise. After providing an open mediumship session to the townsfolk, the psychic is found murdered, leaving the town shrouded in an eerie atmosphere.

Enter Lucy Larkin, a spirited twenty-something with a penchant for amateur sleuthing. In an attempt to win the approval of the gruff yet captivating Detective Johnson, Lucy dives headfirst into the investigation, determined to unveil the truth behind the psychic's untimely demise.

With suspects aplenty and a town full of secrets, Lucy navigates the tangled relationships and enigmatic pasts of Serenity Bay's residents. Will she uncover the killer's identity before love's favorite day is forever stained with the shadows of a chilling murder?

As Valentine's Day approaches, join Lucy Larkin in this captivating cozy mystery. In "Mind Over Murder," she puts her wits to the test, attempting to solve a puzzle where love, secrets, and the supernatural converge in a spellbinding small-town tale.

Buy Now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTV9WK5Z
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=aYryEAAAQBAJ
DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/469933/Mind-Over-Murder

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mind-over-murder-j-j-brass/1144796932?ean=2940179532866
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/mind-over-murder-9
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/mind-over-murder/id6477372524

Read it at Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/703674982/Mind-Over-Murder-Serenity-Bay-Mysteries-5

Get the Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTZK8L6C

Find more retailers with the Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/u/m0aOXM

Subscribe to our mailing list

Murder by Christmas: Serenity Bay #Mysteries Book 4 #SmallTown #Christmas #Quozy #Cozy #Mystery

Murder by Christmas
Author: J.J. Brass
Series: Serenity Bay Mysteries
Book: 4
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Word Count: 32,000

Join amateur sleuth Lucy Larkin as she attends a festive Christmas Eve party with the cast and crew of Serenity Bay's beloved holiday musical. The partygoers make the best of it when the lights go out and a winter snowstorm traps everyone inside, but the evening takes a chilling turn when murder rocks the celebration.

As hidden secrets are revealed, Lucy finds herself entangled in a web of jealousy, love, and unexpected motives. With no way in or out, it's up to her to unravel the truth and expose the murderer among them.

Can Lucy uncover the killer's surprising identity before the snow melts and the holiday spirit is forever tainted?

Dive into a winter wonderland of mystery with "Murder by Christmas," a cozy holiday tale that will keep you guessing. Experience the magic of the season tinged with suspense as snow falls, secrets unfold, and Lucy discovers that, even in the midst of celebration, darkness can lurk where you least expect it.

Get ready for a holiday read that combines the joy of Christmas with the whimsical comedy of a charming cozy mystery!

Buy now from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPMLN4CZ?tag=dorishay-20
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=olroEAAAQBAJ

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-by-christmas-j-j-brass/1144459612
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/murder-by-christmas-3
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/murder-by-christmas/id6474047247

You can find more ebook retailers with the Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/MurderByChristmas

 

 

Subscribe to our mailing list

Murder by Night: Serenity Bay #Mysteries, Book 3 #NewRelease #SmallTown #Quozy #Cozy #Mystery

Murder by Night
Author: J.J. Brass
Series: Serenity Bay Mysteries
Book: 3
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Word Count: 32,000

Welcome to the enchanting town of Serenity Bay, where secrets lurk around every corner, and mysteries await in the most unexpected places.

Follow Lucy Larkin, marketing maven turned local florist, as her quiet life takes a dramatic turn. When a routine night deposit at the bank ends in robbery, Lucy once again joins forces with the determined Detective Johnson. With a series of muggings turning deadly, can they catch the culprit before more crimes are committed?

Get ready for a charming, humorous, and heartwarming story that will keep you guessing until the very end. "Murder by Night" is the perfect cozy mystery for those who adore small-town allure, quirky characters, and a touch of comedy. Dive into this captivating tale of secrets and suspense in Serenity Bay.

J.J. Brass is a queer author living with disability who writes hilarious and heartfelt LGBT mystery stories. If you like your mysteries cozy and comedic, check out tales like Small Town Scandal, The Turkey Wore Satin, Murder at the Office, The Courtyard Clairvoyant Mysteries series, and the Serenity Bay Mysteries.

You can find this book practically everywhere!

The list includes... 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLKZBVY2
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=t5HiEAAAQBAJ

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book/1144343674?ean=2940179210047
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/murder-by-night
Apple: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/murder-by-night/id6471791356

Scribd: https://www.everand.com/book/683482479/Murder-by-Night-Serenity-Bay-Mysteries-3
DriveThruFiction: https://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/459786/Murder-by-Night

Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/u/b6l2Gy

Murder by the Books: Serenity Bay #Mysteries, Book 2 #NewRelease #SmallTown #Quozy #Cozy #Mystery

Murder by the Books
Series: Serenity Bay Mysteries
Book: 2
Author: J.J. Brass
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Word Count: 30,000

Welcome to Serenity Bay, where books hold secrets, and mysteries lurk behind every page.

When Lucy Larkin and her uncle Frank stumble upon an unfinished manuscript hidden in a dresser at the Annual Antiques Street Fair, they uncover more than just forgotten words.

As the mystery unfolds, Lucy and Uncle Frank embark on a quest to unravel the truth. Can they convince Detective Johnson that a crime has been committed, or will they find themselves met with skepticism?

Now, with time running out, Lucy and her uncle must race against the clock to piece together clues hidden within the unfinished book. With curiosity, wit, and a touch of amateur sleuthing, can they unmask the killer and bring justice to Serenity Bay?

"Murder by the Books" is a page-turning journey into the heart of a small town where books can be deadly. Join Lucy and Uncle Frank in this charming cozy mystery.

J.J. Brass is a queer author living with disability who writes hilarious and heartfelt LGBT mystery stories. If you like your mysteries cozy and comedic, check out tales like Small Town Scandal, The Turkey Wore Satin, Murder at the Office, The Courtyard Clairvoyant Mysteries series, and the Serenity Bay Mysteries.

You can find this book practically everywhere!

The list includes... 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHFYYY3D
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CHFYYY3D
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CHFYYY3D
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CHFYYY3D

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144051882
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/murder-by-the-books-1
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6465686025
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/670153611/Murder-by-the-Books-Serenity-Bay-Mysteries-2

If you'd rather listen to this story, you can get the AI Audio version from Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAEDihELEsM

Find even more places to buy Murder by the Books with the Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/MurderbytheBooks

Murder Over the Rainbow: Serenity Bay Mysteries Book 1 #Queer #Cozy #Quozy #SmallTown #Mystery

Murder Over the Rainbow
Series: Serenity Bay Mysteries
Book: 1
Author: J.J. Brass
Publisher: Rainbow Crush
Word Count: 25,000

When Lucy Larkin moves in with her gay uncle Frank in the small town of Serenity Bay, she doesn’t expect to get caught up in a murder investigation.

But when local artist Marcus Briggs is found dead at the site of a controversial rainbow crosswalk, Lucy can't help but get involved.

As she teams up with the surly but loveable Detective Johnson to solve the case, Lucy finds herself navigating a town full of colorful characters.

With suspects aplenty and secrets lurking around every corner, Lucy and Detective Johnson must work together to catch the killer.

Full of suspense, humor, and heart, "Murder Over the Rainbow" is a cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

 
Now Available from Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ125M6M

Find more places to buy this cute quozy with https://books2read.com/MurderOverRainbow

Subscribe to our mailing list

Murder at MarketFresh, Book 2 in the Lasagna Lady #Mysteries #Series

Hi, hi, hi!

It's me again, your pal KitKat, with another announcement about our cat mom Doris Hay's Lasagna Lady Mysteries series.

Book Two is now available! 

Much like its predecessor Murder at Meadowlark, the new book Murder at MarketFresh is set in the Mystery Cats' hometown of Toronto.  The first book was set at a retirement residence. This murder takes place in a supermarket parking lot. It's a hit-and-run, but is it deliberate?  Is it an accident?  Luella Genova is one of only three witnesses, and she votes for deliberate act of violence.

One thing I love about the second book in any series is that you've gotten all the meeting your main characters stuff out of the way. We met Luella and Chandelle in Book One.  We already love them--despite their quirks or because of their quirks, I'm not sure which. Now we're ready to watch them take on the worlds of lasagna delivery, crime-solving, and dealing with the ghosts of the past.

You may recall that in Book One, someone broke into Luella's house. That was never fully resolved, was it?  Well, in Book Two we find out who it was--and the answer will blow you away!

We also get to see Luella trying to worm her way into Chandelle's young life. Luella's convinced Chandelle would be happier if she made some friends her own age. When she tries to get the transgender teen to join her school's LGBT Alliance, let's just say it doesn't go well. Chandelle's great at driving other people's lives, but she doesn't appreciate it when Luella interferes in hers.

There's so much going on in this book it would be a great read even without the murder mystery, but, that said, the mystery is actually central to the action.

What does it take to solve a murder in a supermarket parking lot? A mischievous husky dog, an entrepreneurial high school student, and a little lasagna lady with a whole lotta heart!

When Luella Genova witnesses a hit-and-run in the parking lot of the MarketFresh superstore, it isn’t her first brush with murder. It is, however, the first time she’s witnessed the death of a teen.

Grace Tangoco was a determined young woman working three jobs to pay for university. Her classmates and coworkers loved her, and yet nobody knew her all that well. Nobody but her secret boyfriend, who mysteriously disappeared after the hit-and-run.

Who could have killed such a kind and hard-working young girl? The police are investigating, sure, but this case can only be cracked by Luella the Lasagna Lady and her business partner Chandelle “Garlic Bread Girl” Jervais. After all, they’re the only two people who know about the teenager’s haunting last words.

If you're ready to watch Luella and Chandelle's friendship build while they solve another murder, you're ready for Murder at MarketFresh.

Murder at MarketFresh is currently enrolled in Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. That means, if you're a KU member, you get to read the entire novel for free!

Murder at MarketFresh is the second book in the Lasagna Lady Mysteries series.

Read MURDER AT MARKETFRESH by Doris Hay today! 
It’s free with KindleUnlimited!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079ZZNLB6?tag=dorishay-20
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079ZZNLB6
Amazon CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B079ZZNLB6
Amazon AUSTRALIA: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B079ZZNLB6

Murder at Meadowlark, Book 1 in the Lasagna Lady #Mysteries #culinary #cozy #mystery #series

Hello, friends!

KitKat here, with a big announcement on behalf of myself and my fellow Mystery Cats and our dear old cat mom, Doris Hay:

At long last, it is with great pleasure that we, the Mystery Cats, announce to you that our cat mom has released the first book in her Lasagna Lady Mysteries series!

Murder at Meadowlark takes place here in Toronto, where we Mystery Cats live. It's largely set at the Meadowlark Retirement Residence. Those seniors really get around! You'll be amazed! There's lots of LGBT content to keep me happy (sometimes I think Mama Doris writes these books just for me!), but I know Ginger loved the big feels she got from the characters.

There's a lot to love about Luella and Chandelle and their burgeoning friendship. A lady in her sixties and a sixteen-year-old makes for a great pairing. They're such an odd couple, but that's why they fit together so well. Luella never speaks her mind. Chandelle never stops speaking her mind. They work so well together, and I really enjoyed watching their friendship deepen throughout the book. 

This is a mystery novel with a whole lot of heart. We Mystery Cats hope you'll enjoy the twists and turns Murder at Meadowlark takes you on. Some of those twists are a little dark, especially for a culinary cozy, but ultimately this books captures the heart as much as it intrigues with its backbone of murder mystery.

Murder at Meadowlark is currently enrolled in Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. That means, if you're a KU member, you get to read the entire novel for free! We Mystery Cats definitely recommend it. Mind you, we're somewhat biased. After all, we warm the author's feet every night, and she provides us with food and litter. So we certainly want her book to succeed.  If it does particularly well, maybe she'll even buy us treats!

Read Murder at Meadowlark today! It's the first book in the Lasagna Lady Mysteries series, and you're sure to fall in love with these quirky characters just like you've fallen in love with us Mystery Cats!

Murder at Meadowlark

Lasagna Lady Mysteries

Book 1

Author: Doris Hay

Luella Genova has never been great at speaking her mind. When community-spirited high school student Chandelle Jervais asks her to bring one of her famous lasagnas to the potluck at Meadowlark Retirement Residence, the aging widow would rather stay home and swallow a bottle of pills.

Who’d have thought lasagna could change a lady’s life?

When Luella arrives at Meadowlark, a woman has just died—not an uncommon occurrence in a home for seniors, but Luella smells a rat. Even the old woman’s family is satisfied to believe that she died of natural causes, but that only makes Luella more suspicious. The only way to prove it was murder… is to find the killer!

Book One in the Lasagna Lady Mysteries series.

Read MURDER AT MEADOWLARK by Doris Hay today! 
It’s free with KindleUnlimited!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078YGP2N3?tag=dorishay-20
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078YGP2N3
Amazon CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B078YGP2N3
Amazon AUSTRALIA: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B078YGP2N3

KitKat Reviews The Courtyard Clairvoyant Mysteries #Ace #LGBTQIA #Paranormal #Cozy #Mystery #Series

Title: The Courtyard Clairvoyant Mysteries Collection One
Author: J.J. Brass
Genre: LGBT / Psychic / Cozy
Status: Read
Cats?: Yes, but I don't want to talk about it.

KitKat Says:

I have a new favourite queer cozy mystery series and it's called The Courtyard Clairvoyant Mysteries.

What's so great about the Courtyard Clairvoyant? Well, first of all we've got an asexual aunt and her pansexual niece as main characters. Aunt Elise is currently recovering from a cornea transplant and guess what?  Turns out the cornea she received previously belonged to a psychic!  Now when she looks people in the eye, she can see what they're hiding.

What are you going to do when you find out you're suddenly psychic? You're going to solve mysteries, of course! Especially if you live on a small-town courtyard and your neighbours are all a bunch of gossipy (but mostly friendly) people.

My favourite of the four books I've read was the third in the series: I Spy a Courtyard Casanova.

In this book, Aunt Elise's former fiance arrives on the courtyard. It turns out she left him at the altar many years ago, and seeing him again brings out lots of messy feelings.

I love the way author J.J. Brass shows us this older woman coming to a greater understanding of what it means to be asexual, for her.  It's not like she's been identifying as ace for 50 years.  The idea of identifying as asexual and that there are other people in the world who are a lot like her is pretty new.

I also love the way her niece Val helps along the way. Life can be confusing for anybody, but for someone who is questioning her identity later in life, Elise sometimes feels really discombobulated. She admires the way her niece's generation can be so out and proud while she still feels a need to keep certain matters private.

The other thing I love most about I Spy a Courtyard Casanova is the mystery itself. It starts out looking like a simple theft, but we soon discover an art fraud ring going on right under their noses. Who doesn't love a good art forgery story, am I right?

There are cats in this series but I won't say too much about that. When you get to the fourth book in the series, I Spy a Wedding Dress Mess, you'll find out why.

I highly recommend The Courtyard Clairvoyant for any cozy mystery reader who wants a strong cast of queer characters. This series has got it all kinds of representation covered: characters who are genderqueer, ace, poly-pan, trans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, the list goes on! There are even a few straight people in there too. 😛

If you want to sink your teeth into a cozy small-town mystery series with a hearty dose of queer representation, look no further. The Courtyard Clairvoyant Mysteries by J.J. Brass is the series for you!

Find The Courtyard Clairvoyant at Amazon

Subscribe to our mailing list

KitKat Reads #LGBT #Cozy #Mystery Small Town Scandal by J.J. Brass

Title: Small Town Scandal
Author: J.J. Brass
Genre: LGBT / Small Town / Cozy
Status: Read
Cats?: None

KitKat Says:

Agatha Vanderjagt is a crotchety old woman who lives alone in the small town of Hillsgrave. She also happens to be a retired schoolteacher.

Chris is a trans man and former student of Miss Vanderjagt's. As his ex-girlfriend points out, he's serious about taking care of animals and elders. That's why he cares for dogs full-time and gives Agatha a hand around the house after work.

When Agatha gets a blackmail letter, Chris is the only one she can turn to. The blackmailer has come across sexy black-and-white photos--photos of Agatha and her lesbian lover from long, long ago.

Chris drops everything to help solve the mystery of who is demanding money from Agatha. He obviously feels a deep sense of responsibility toward his former teacher, because he goes on helping her even when she shows him zero gratitude. The back-and-forth between Agatha and Chris is hilarious and all too real at times. They feel like family, like a grandmother and her grandson. They irritate each other constantly, but they always stick together. To me, this is a family mystery--a shining example of chosen family in a small-town setting.

As for the mystery, there are plenty of suspects to choose from. Agatha isn't the most beloved figure in town. When you see the way she talks to people you'll understand why! There's also a romantic B-plot about Chris and his ex-girlfriend... who happens to be the only person in town who freely admits to having seen the photographs Agatha's being blackmailed about. Hmmm...

If you're looking for a cozy small-town mystery with a hearty dose of queer representation, look no further. Small Town Scandal by J.J. Brass is the book for you!

Find Small Town Scandal at Amazon

Subscribe to our mailing list

KitKat Reads Murder at the Office: A Mother Daughter #Mystery #Cozy #LGBT

Title: Murder at the Office
Author: J.J. Brass
Genre: Cozy / Amateur Sleuth / LGBT
Reviewed by: KitKat
Status: Read
Cats?: None

KitKat Says:

For my first post here at the Cats Read Mysteries blog, I'd like to tell you about a new short mystery from author J.J. Brass's Cozy and Queer series: Murder at the Office. The thing I love most about this little book is that it features a mother and sixteen-year-old daughter--and trust me when I say they do NOT get along! Their interplay reminds me 100% of my mom and my sister when she was a teenager.

As a reader who devours LGBT fiction, I also love that there's more than one lesbian character in this story. The entire mystery takes place at the mother's office, where her estranged daughter has come to take advantage of some free colour photocopying. When the boss gets wind of this, she's not happy. No using company property for personal gain!

When the boss turns up dead, it doesn't seem like the office workers will be crying too many tears. It's up to Sharon and Kate, our mother/daughter team of amateur sleuths, to figure out who the murderer is. Can they solve the crime without killing each other? Well it wouldn't be a very satisfying cozy if they didn't, but what I particularly enjoyed was not only the journey but how their sleuthing helps bring them together. Mother and daughter finally have a very necessary conversation after cracking the case.

Murder at the Office is a really funny little story that strikes a lot of cords for a reader who enjoys a good cozy lesbian mystery. Have a read!

Sharon and her teenage daughter haven’t been on the best of terms since the divorce. Perhaps it’s natural for a deodorant-eschewing lesbian punk to avoid her mother, but Sharon can’t help thinking there’s more to the story.

When Kate shows up at the office, Sharon is stunned to see her. The only thing that could surprise Sharon more is finding the boss strangled to death! Can this mother and daughter pairing put their squabbles aside long enough to solve a murder? Or will the killer strike again… closer to home?

Download your copy today and read this hilarious and heartfelt tale of murder after hours!

A queer and cozy mother/daughter mystery.

Find Murder at the Office: A Mother Daughter Mystery at Amazon

Subscribe to our mailing list