Independent publisher of award-winning books by Kelly Brakenhoff
Hello friends, I didn’t finish a single shiny new series book this month—probably because I’ve spent the first few months of the year juggling seven nonfiction titles, three ongoing mystery series, and surviving my IRL book club choosing Yellowface. So yeah, welcome to The Mixed Bag Edition, a look at what I’ve been reading so far in 2025. Want […]
If you’re a Gen Xer like me, imagine The Love Boat meets Murder, She Wrote and Top Chef. For Millennials: picture Doctor Odyssey meets Clue. Set sail with a cruise director who’s just trying to keep things afloat, both literally and figuratively. That’s the vibe of A Cruise for Sous, the second book in M.J. Mac’s Cozy Cocktail Cruise Mystery series.
Stephanie Plum is back, and despite living through 30 (Yes, 30!!) books’ worth of car explosions, perilous bounty hunts, and Lula’s daring fashion choices, she’s barely aged a day. Meanwhile, Janet Evanovich, her fearless creator, is now in her eighties. Which begs the question: Is the end in sight?
Saltcliff on the Sea sounds like the perfect getaway—quaint California seaside vibes, charming locals, and a cozy inn with Instagrammable sunsets. But murder has a way of ruining even the best vacations.
The smell of popcorn, the hum of a projector, and a quiet seaside town with a small movie theater showing classic Hollywood films—sounds idyllic, right? Until a dead body shows up before the credits roll.
If you’re in the mood for a quirky, laugh-out-loud cozy mystery, A Hopeless Murder by Daniel Carson is a fun choice. This first book in the series introduces us to Hopeless, Idaho—a town bursting with eccentric personalities, nosy neighbors, and more secrets than you’d expect from a place so small.
You know I love a good academic mystery, so this month I’ve got an interesting twist for you. Imagine it’s the 1920s, and if you thought your college days were tough, you are in for a treat.
Who knew that stepping out of my mystery-loving comfort zone and diving into Brandon Sanderson’s Tress of the Emerald Sea would be such a memorable adventure? This fantasy book is an expedition to a distant planet where rain carries bizarre spores, lethal vines sprawl unchecked, and the seas are a mysterious shade of green.
Ever had a corn dog that led to a police escort? Welcome to Chloe Martin’s life in A History of Murder, where a rush to find a restroom turns into a full-blown mystery in Jericho Falls, Nevada. Chloe’s unexpected return to the town after thirteen years is not a happy homecoming.
Dearest Gentle Reader, I must confess. Choosing a tale that boldly claims to be “Bridgerton meets historical mystery,” I half-expected The Missing Diamond to drown me in high society balls and tea-time gossip. Thankfully, Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe had a different plan.
