Ginger Reviews "The Bullet That Missed" by Richard Osman #cozy #mystery #cozymysteries

Hello, fellow book lovers! 

Ginger here, your friendly neighborhood kitten, ready to share my thoughts on "The Bullet That Missed" by the delightful Richard Osman. Let's dive right into this cozy mystery, shall we?

I must confess that I made a rookie mistake. This book is part of a series, and while it stands well on its own, I couldn't help but feel a tad lost without the context of the first two books. Lesson learned: always start at the beginning! If only I had followed that advice, I might have been better acquainted with our cast of charming characters from the get-go.

Speaking of characters, let me tell you about the delightful bunch in "The Bullet That Missed." Picture this: a club full of elderly amateur sleuths, each with their quirks and secrets. There's a former spy among them, adding a dash of intrigue to the mix. Oh, the tales they must have to tell!

At their club, these intrepid investigators delve into cold cases, and the one at the center of this installment is a real humdinger. It involves a TV investigative journalist with connections to a prominent television personality who seems to have been quite smitten with the deceased. Cue the backstage drama and onscreen antics!

Osman's narrative effortlessly weaves together the world of TV personalities and backstage intrigue with the cozy charm of a classic mystery. It's like curling up by the fire with a bowl of warm milk and a whodunit unfolding before your very eyes. Romances and attractions simmer beneath the surface, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the mix.

While the mystery itself kept me guessing until the very end, it was the characters and their relationships that truly stole the show. From budding romances to unlikely friendships, there's a warmth and camaraderie among the club members that is utterly endearing.

"The Bullet That Missed" is a delightful romp through the world of TV personalities, backstage drama, and cold case investigations. Recommended for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a dash of romance and a sprinkle of onscreen magic. If you're smarter than me, you might even start at the beginning of the series for the full experience. 

Find "The Bullet That Missed" at Amazon

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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

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Ginger Reads The Witness by Nora Roberts #Romantic #Suspense #Mystery

Title: The Witness
Author: Nora Roberts
Genre: Romantic / Suspense / Mystery
Status: Reading
Cats?: No, but there's a BIG dog!

Ginger Says:

I'm only halfway through The Witness, but I wanted to tell you about it because this book sucked me in right from the very first page. You get a real sense of 16-year-old Elizabeth Fitch's personality: highly intelligent, but socially-stunted by an overbearing mother.

When Elizabeth rebels for the first time in her life, terrible things happen. We're talking more than just a bad haircut. Elizabeth ends up witnessing a Russian mafia hit. She winds up in witness protection, and would you believe things go downhill from there?!

Quite a few years later, we meet up with Elizabeth living under another name and living in a small town that has its own cunning and attractive sheriff. She's got herself a giant guard dog that understands at least four languages and is so well-trained it almost makes me wish Doris would get us a dog.

Now, I know what you're thinking: cats and dogs are sworn enemies. But does that necessarily have to be the case? Is it really so wrong for a tiny ginger kitten to read about a big strong canine and wonder what it would be like to cuddle up together in front of a roaring fire?

In any case, if you're looking for a book that starts out action-packed, morphs into a romance, and then I don't know what because I haven't read that far, then The Witness by Nora Roberts is the novel for you!

Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth Fitch finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive.

Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance security systems designer, her own protection is supplemented by a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. Unfortunately, that seems to be the quickest way to get attention in a tiny southern town.

The mystery of Abigail Lowery and her sharp mind, secretive nature and unromantic viewpoint intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and professional level. And while he suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, Gleason is accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, not the powerful and dangerous men who are about to have him in their sights.

And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.

Find The Witness at Amazon

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