Title: Death by Intermission
Source: Kindle
Genre: Mystery
Explicit? No
Trigger Warnings: Mentions of violent
Summary:

Abby McCree spends a summer showing family films under the stars—only to end the season with an unexpected slasher flick . . .

Ushered once again onto another committee by the mayor of Snowberry Creek, Washington, Abby is tasked with keeping the box office receipts of the town’s Movies in the Park nights. Cut to the director’s chair from where she’s suddenly organizing the summer’s last feature. From the opening scene through the final credits, Abby feels she’s earned nominations for best volunteer, best movie date with her tenant Tripp Blackston—and best daughter for ignoring her mother Phoebe’s own movie date with Owen Quinn.

Unfortunately, Abby and the others are treated to a post-credits scene: the body of local insurance agent Mitchell Anders. This discovery is followed by a plot twist revealing that the murder weapon comes from Owen’s food truck. With her mother’s boyfriend suspected of murder, Abby starts her own investigation determined to shine a spotlight on the real killer . . .

The Victim
This was another victim we didn’t meet before they got killed so we didn’t really get a full picture on who they were until near the end of the book, which was interesting, to say the least.

The Suspects
The suspects in this book for me didn’t appear till midway-toward the end of the book, because I didn’t believe that the person who was blamed for most of the book was the killer because it just seemed to obvious. (Plus Zeke liked him, so there’s that.)

The Scene of the Crime
Can’t beat a park during a movie in the park, can you?

The Characters
Abby – Abby shows some real fire in this book that we didn’t get to see in the previous 3 books and to be honest I appreciated it. Through everything she’s remained a rather level character, with few outbursts, but when her peaceful life is threatened not only by another dead body but by her mother criticizing her every move she really stands her own.

Tripp – Tripp can be forgiven for his idiocy in the last book because he really does stand out, and stand up for Abby in this book. He’s opening up more to her, and about his life in Special Forces which I appreciated.

Gage – Poor Gage, Abby’s mom was really giving it to him in this book and not in a fun way at all. He as usual is one of my fave characters.

Phoebe – Oh my god. I thought I didn’t like Valerie in the last book but Abby’s mom is a real standout for my wrath in this one. She refuses to admit that her daughter is an adult, and though I know she’s scared there’s no reason to take it out on her child.

The Plot

This book really stuck with me as I was reading it, and the plot between the murder mystery, the relationship between Abby and Phoebe as well as Tripp and Abby getting closer than ever kept me going.

I liked this book so much I actually ended up reading it all in one sitting.

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Title: Death by the Finish Line
Source: Kindle
Genre: Mystery
Explicit? No
Trigger Warning: Mentions of violence
Summary:

When a dead body turns up on a race route, Abby McCree hits the ground running to catch a killer…

Overcommitted Abby has once again been drafted to use her organizing superpowers–this time for a 5k charity run that’s part of the Founder’s Day Celebration in Snowberry Creek, Washington. At least she has help, albeit from an unlikely source: Gil Pratt, a member of her handsome tenant Tripp Blackston’s veterans group and co-owner of a motorcycle repair shop with his brother. Abby and Gil may seem like an odd couple, but they work great together.

The event seems to be running smoothly–until city council member James DiSalvo is found murdered in a ravine along the race route. Unfortunately, Gil’s brother Gary had a very public argument with DiSalvo minutes before the race, making him the prime suspect. Now the two race organizers must again team up to prove Gary’s innocence–before the real killer makes a run for it. But one wrong step and Abby may be the next one to come in dead last…

The Victim
We did not meet this victim before that I could recall except for a brief intro in the beginning of this book while he was still alive, and man was he a real piece of work.

The Suspects
There was a total red herring in this book that caught me until almost near the end. There weren’t a ton of solid suspects in this book but definitely enough maybes to keep you guessing. Zeke did not play a part in picking out the killer this time.

The Scene of the Crime
Down a hill/cliff/in a culvert is an interesting place to find a body.

The Characters

Abby – I love seeing the character growth and relationship building with Abby and the people of Snowberry Creek. It’s great to see her further settle into town.

Tripp – There is only one thing I don’t like about Tripp. He tends to grip Abby’s arm when he’s upset about something she is doing, and I don’t know. It throws me off sometimes because of how much it happens.

Gage – I still love you. Your daughter is adorable. You deserve all the happiness in the world.

Gil – my favourite biker. Seriously. He is more than he seems and I love him. I enjoyed him last book and that enjoyment continues to grow.

Liam – Liam has only appeared slightly in the last four books, and it was nice to see him being all teasing/joking around the pool table.

The Plot
This one was a zinger for sure, and harkened back to previous books with a lot of tense moments, some of them even in public.

I really enjoyed the murder mystery plot of the book, as it kept me guessing and guessing wrong again and again until there was a bit more clarity for me within the end of the book. It was well drawn out without being too tedious.

The off-mystery parts were also good, with friendships growing and there was a lot of great details in how the town functions, who makes decisions and what some of the “nicer” people in town actually are like.

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Title: Death by Arts and Crafts
Source: Netgalley (I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
Explicit? No
Trigger Warning: Mentions of violent, ageism, sexism
Summary:
When a killer’s handiwork threatens Snowberry Creek’s first-ever arts and crafts fair, committee member and amateur sleuth Abby McCree starts looking for glues in this delightfully crafty new installment in Alexis Morgan’s USA Today bestselling cozy series set in the Pacific Northwest!

As the newest member of the Snowberry Creek City Council, perpetually overextended Abby McCree is picked to liaise between the council and the new planning committee for the town’s first ever arts and crafts fair. As far as gigs go, it’s a fun one–Abby’s spending the weekend tooling around Washington State, checking out similar fairs with her two besties, coffee shop owner Bridey Roker, and ceramic artisan Dayna Fisk.

As Abby spreads the word about Snowberry Creek’s fair, recruiting the industry’s biggest movers and makers, the trip feels like a glittering success. But then, someone is found murdered at one of the events and vendors begin disappearing amid suspicious circumstances. Abby’s determined to keep her hands clean, until Dayna finds herself stuck at the top of the suspect list. Now, Abby must weave the clues together and clear her friend’s name before the killer claims another victim–maybe even Abby herself . . .

I actually started reading this book before turning around and deciding to read the previous five first. From what I understand though is that you could read this book as a standalone.

The Victim(s)
Ooooh, this book has SO many victims in it! I don’t know why I’m celebrating that. Some end up dead, and some walk away from it. Some, however do not. They are varied in behaviour and how they are perceived and the variety kept me guessing.

The Suspects
Due to the sheer amount of victims this book kept me guessing in the best ways. Some of them seemed too out there to be serious suspects, while others seemed a little too obvious. They were just as varied in personality as the victims and it seemed like a real change from the previous books.

The Scene(s) of the Crime(s)
Craft fairs! Workshops! Someone’s house! Variety is the spice of life, and this has me wondering if I should keep walls off my craft cubicle.

The Characters
Abby – she is getting spicier and spicier with each book and I absolutely love that. She’s really coming into her own, and while she does sometimes make remarks about ladies not being able to swear, I still like her. But sometimes, girl, it’s nice to let one or two out. And does she get roped into yet another town duty? Yes she sure does.

Tripp – He’s learned how to talk about his feelings! Just a little bit but enough to have me beaming. He deserves happiness.

Dayna – Abby’s BFF was in the book just enough for me to be interested in her work as a pottery artist, but not enough for me to trust her.

Gage – Not enough Gage in this book but when he’s there he’s still a big presence.

The Plot

This book has one of the stronger plots of any of the books and might actually be my favourite. I loved that part of the crime happened outside of Snowberry Creek. It made everything more interesting, to see how the characters interacted with each other in different environments.

The fairs being set as a backdrop for the book was awesome. It allowed for the suspects, and potential victims to move around each other and for the reader to become more interested in who they are and what they were doing.

I also always love learning more about the people of Snowberry Creek.