Author: Virginia Lowell
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 4-5-2011
Pages: 306
ASIN: 004GXC8DO
(Synopsis)
Olivia "Livie" Grayson, slave to Spunky, a rescued Yorkie, is co-proprietor of The Gingerbread House along with long time friend Maddie Briggs, a free-spirited, flamboyant, and a cookie mixer extraordinaire. The book quickly goes to the announcement of the discovery of Livie's dear friend and mentor Clarisse Chamberlain, wealthy business woman and a pillar of the community. Sheriff Delroy Jenkins tells her it was either a suicide or accidental overdose. Something Livie has a hard time accepting. The more she learns the more she is convinced Clarisse was murdered.
Livie receives a letter that convinces her more than ever something was going on in Clarisse's life that may have led to her death. She and Maddie begin investigating on their own, much to the consternation of the sheriff. They interview many of the town's people covertly and check the alibi's of each of her prime suspects. Follow along as Livie and Maddie make cookies, sell new and antique cookie cutters and investigate murder on the side.
(Review)
Welcome to Chatterley Heights, your newest stop on visits to old and new literary friends. If you enjoy Diane Mott Davidson's Goldylock's Catering or Joann Fluke's Hannah Swenson mysteries then you are going to love Virginia Lowell's Cookie Cutter Shop mysteries. You will identify with Livie's hectic life and smile as you imagine Maddie and her zany ways. From beginning to end Cookie Dough or Die will keep you involved in the happenings at The Gingerbread House and eagerly waiting to open A Cookie Before Dying just so you won't have to leave Chatterley Heights.
Title: A Cookie Before Dying
Author: Virginia Lowell
Publisher : Berkley
Pages : 305
ISBN: 0425245012
Published December 6, 2011
(Synopsis)
Olivia "Livie" Greyson and her partner of The Gingerbread House, Maddie Briigs, are in a squabble with her new neighbor Charlene Critch, owner and operator of Chatterley Heights' newest business, The Vegetable Plate. First Livie discovers balled flyers shouting the evil and dangerous consequences of consuming sugar. Then next moment she discovers that someone has broken in and trashed the vegetarian restaurant. More frightening the man is still there. Sheriff Del Jenkins arrives not at all surprised to find Livie standing in the center of a crime scene.
Maddie who dislikes Charlene plans a surprise event with vegetable shaped cookies as a stab at Charlene, who constantly denies having anything to do with the flyers. Charlene comes to the event with well concealed bruises and being very cozy with Livie's brother Jason. As tension rises between business owners other events occur, A ghostly dancer in the town's central park, the murder of Charlene's abusive former husband. His body is discovered by Livie on a hot sultry night when she goes out find why the deputies dog is howling in the park near where the ghostly apparition had appeared. The next day Livie is knocked for a loop when her brother confesses to the crime.
Follow Livie, Maddie and her Livie's mother as they ferret out clues to prove that Jason is not the murderer, but that he is covering up for his his school sweetheart, the woman he still loves, Charlene. Charlene is busy trying to protect herself and her brother, Charlie. With everyone trying to protect everyone else Livie and crew have their work cut out for them.
(Review)
Once again drawn into a murder investigation Livie scrambles to prove her innocent brother innocent of the murder of his girlfriend's mean and scheming former husband. With the help of Maddie, her business partner, Mr. Wilber, an attorney, her mother and reluctant assistance of her love interest, Sheriff Jenkins, who only wants to keep her safe. Livie goes where angels fear to tread. You will root for her and be as exasperated with her as Sheriff Jenkins and you will love her for her loyalty to family and friends. Be ready with book 3 When The Cookie Crumbles because you'll want to delay leaving Chatterley Heights for as long as you can.
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 8-7-2012
Pages: 303
ASIN: B0073XVA24
Olivia Greyson, Cookie Baker and Co-Owner of The Gingerbread House with Maddie Briggs, is sitting in another boring Founder's Day Celebration Committee meeting. Her mind is wandering as she listens to Mayor Karen Evanson bully everyone about their assignments. Suddenly her cell phone vibrates and it is her "Special Friend" Sheriff Del Jenkins, sending him to voice mail she tunes into the meeting again. The next time it vibrates it is Dell texting her to call him, ignoring the phone she feels it twice more when she looks at the text from Del telling her to call him "NOW!". Ignoring Karen's glare she calls him to find out that the Chatterley family's legitimate line is not as dead as everyone thought. Del tells her that Paine Chatterley, son of the late Harold and Sally Chatterley, did not die as was believed. He and his wife Hermione have returned to Chatterley to live. Worse yet he is kicking everyone out of Chatterley Mansion, the focal point of the upcoming Founder's Day Festivities. From the look on the Mayor's face she is hearing the same news as Livie is and she is not happy.
The Mayor demands Livie go to see Paine and get him to change his mind about the Founder's Day and allowing people to tour through the Mansion. During this time Paine kicks all the workmen off the restoration project the city is doing on the mansion and threatening to sue the town of Chatterley Heights for the poor condition of the structure is in, as they were responsible for the upkeep in exchange for allowing tours through the house. When Olivia arrives with Spunky, her Yorkie Rescued dog, Paine is quick to tell her to leave and take he dog with her. He wants no visitors. His wife Hermione is overrides Paine and tells Livie to come in. Talking with his wife Olivia finds that Paine has not been feeling well and that he still holds some annimosity for some members of the community from when he was a boy. Livie is assured by Hermione that if she will bring a list of those to be given tours and interviews Hermione will get Paine to agree.
On Friday morning as the Mayor kicks of the Founder's Day weekend Celebration outside of Chatterley Mansion Hermione stumbles through the door in her negligee and reaches out before falling to the ground in a faint. Del and Deputy Cody Furlow rush over, Cody to keep the spectators and newsmen at bay and Del to carry Hermione inside to get her out of the fray. Livie's phone rings and it is Del asking her to go around back and come in the house to sit with Hermione who is all but hysterical. When Livie comes in Del tells her Paine is dead, but won't tell her if it was accidental death or murder. Surprise is was murder, and on his bedside table lays a gingerbread cookie. Is it one from the Gingerbread House perhaps?
Poor Livie is run ragged and trying so hard not to step on her boyfriend Del's investigation. She and Maddie, whom I believe has a touch of ADHD can't help themselves. Although in this book I have to admit it is Maddie who instigates Livie into breaking out a bit. Del request Livie help keep an eye on Hermione, but Maddie talks her into searching the mansion for the legendary treasure. Now who can resist a treasure hunt? Definitely not Maddie and Livie, especially when the treasure has to do with antiques cookie cutters. There is a killer on the prowl, someone searching the mansion who indiscriminately destroys the antiques and household items and a question on whether Paine and Hermione are who they say they are. If they are, why can no one trace them before they came to Chatterley Heights? Who is steeling from the businesses and where are all the gingerbread house supplies disappearing to?
Livie is feeling rushed as she tries to keep on track for the Founders day Celebration and Help Del in any way she can. I wish I could function so well. Ms. Lowell's characters are so real you can not help but fall in love with them and their town. She uses her descriptive words to bring them to life. Each book just gets better and better. As The Cookie Crumbles can easily be read as a stand alone book, but I would recommend you read them all in order to learn the history of all the characters and their inner-relationships. With each book you learn more about the history of the town and its residents. I can not wait to read One Dead Cookie so I can return to Chatterley Heights. I want to stop by the Gingerbread House for a cozy chat, catch up on some of the town's news and perhaps I will be luck enough to enjoy some gingerbread cookies while I am there. Come along and join me, there is always cookies, a hot cup of tea or coffee and a friendly atmosphere to be found at the Gingerbread House.
Title: One Dead Cookie (Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery Book 4)
Author: Virginia Lowell
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 8-7-2012
Pages: 303
ASIN: B0073XVA24
Hooray! Livie Greyson has invited us to visit Chatterley Heights. Her brother, Jason has returned to town and is back working at a local garage. She needs some help preparing the cookies and cookie cake for Maddie Briggs' engagement/wedding. Not to mention someone is breaking into the businesses on Main Street and her new part-time employee, Jennifer is acting strangely. Local reporter Binie is stirring up trouble with her usual made up news. This time she is spreading rumors that Livie and her long-time boyfriend, Sheriff Del Jenkins, have split up and Del is seeing Jennifer who works in Livie's The Gingerbread house. On the upside, maybe, former actress Lenora Tucker Bouchenbein has two popular actors coming to stay. That is until one of them, Trevor Lane turns up dead on the porch of The Gingerbread House with the brand of a cookie cutter on his face.
With her friend Stacey at the top of the suspect list Livie's crammed schedule just became more packed. If you are a good cook maybe you can help in the Gingerbread House kitchen making cookie for the shop or perhaps you can help Livie come up with a unique recipe for Maddie' reception cookies. If you have dreamed of entering law enforcement you might want to help her find the real killer by searching out clues or interviewing witnesses. You might be able to find out what secrets Trevor's friend Dougie is hiding and what grudge he had against Trevor.
There is never a dull moment in Chatterley Heights and once you come you may never want to leave again. Elizabeth Lowell envisioned a lovely tight-knit community and uses her words to bring it and its residents to life for you. Once you come to visit you just may fall so in love you may never want to leave. One Dead Cookie is the latest in the Cookie Cutter Mystery Series and can easily be read as a stand alone book, but if you want a chance to watch the characters develop and learn more about the history of the town and the people who live there start at book one, Cookie Dough or Die and continue from there. Book two, A Cookie Before Dying; Book three, When The Cookie Crumbles; then book four, One Dead Cookie. Unfortunately this is a new release so we will have to wait a while for Virginia Lowell to finish the next in the series. I personally can not wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment