Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna

 

Do you prefer standalones or series?  I enjoy both, but always love when I find a new series to enjoy like the Stella and Lyndy Mystery series.

British Lyndy, Viscount Lyndhurst, and his American wife Stella, Lady Lyndhurst, have traveled to Montana to visit Lyndy’s father, Lord Atherly, who is working on a paleontology dig on the horse ranch of Stella’s mother and stepfather.  Soon after their arrival, a death amongst the dig team occurs and things spiral after that.  Will Stella and Lyndy be able to solve this mystery?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the seventh book in the series.  It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading this delightful series.

·       This is a cozy mystery.

·       I’ve always found paleontology fascinating, and I loved the setting of this story in 1906 Montana during the search for fossils.

·       Stella and Lyndy are a great couple.  It was fun with this new setting in America to have Lyndy out of his element in this book rather than Stella in England.

·       There were a lot of red herrings in this mystery, and I was surprised by the ending.

·       I enjoyed that Stella got to enjoy time with her mother and getting to know her.  Stella was raised by her father and didn’t really know her mother.

·       It was also nice that Lyndy’s abrasive mom was not in America, but she still put the pressure on to have a child from afar.

·       This was a fun read.

·       Interesting author’s note on the end with tidbits and sources on the real history during this time period.

Overall, Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna was a fun cozy historical mystery with great characters.

Book Source:  Thank-you to author Clara McKenna for a review copy of this novel. 

 

Murder on Mistletoe Lane by Clara McKenna

 

Who is your bookish OTP (one true pairing)?  I love Stella and Lyndy in the Stella and Lyndy Mystery series.

Recently married American, Stella, and Viscount “Lyndy” Lyndhurst are celebrating their first Christmas together in Edwardian England.  Stella is excited to bring some of her American traditions to the celebrations but is feeling some push back from the staff and from her mother-in-law.  Her mother-in-law is happy to spend Stella’s dowery on fixing up the estate and having more staff but is less enthused by her American traditions.  When first the housekeeper, Mrs. Nelson, and then their neighbor, die within quick succession under mysterious circumstances, will Lyndy and Stella be able to solve the crimes?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is the fifth novel in the Stella and Lyndy Mystery series.  I have read and enjoyed book 4, but I need to read the rest of this series. Book six is next on my list!

·       This mystery had many twists and turns and it kept me on my toes.

·       This novel had wonderful characters.  There was a lot going on in the story with the characters, families, servants, friends staying at the manor, and neighbors.  I really enjoyed getting to know all these characters.  I especially loved Lyndy and Stella together.  They have great love, mutual respect, and are a great crime fighting duo.

·       I loved the Edwardian Christmas setting.  I was annoyed that the mother-in-law was spending Stella’s money, but not open to her suggestions. 

·       There are many other side mysteries in this story.  Why did the cook disappear?  Why does Stella’s things keep disappearing?  How could a car disappear?

·       I liked how the servants were included in the story.  It gave it a Downton Abbey feel.

Overall, the Stella and Lyndy Edwardian cozy historical mystery series is a must read.  This addition, Murder on Mistletoe Lane, is especially fun with the Christmas setting.

Book Source:  Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Murder at the Majestic Hotel by Clara McKenna (Stella and Lyndy Mystery #4)

 

Where did you go on your honeymoon or where would you like to go on vacation if you could pick anywhere?

We went to Arizona and toured around from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, to the Hoover Dam.  It was a lot of fun.

Murder at the Majestic Hotel is a riveting historical mystery set in England in the early twentieth century.  Viscount and Lady Lyndhurst (Lyndy and Stella) have just married and are looking forward to spending their honeymoon staying in the honeymoon suite of the Majestic Hotel in York.  They find out on their arrival that there has been a mix-up and someone else has their suite, Mr. Horace Wingrove the famous chocolatier.  In the night, he mysteriously dies, and Stella and Lyndy are on the case.  What caused his death?  Where is the missing chocolate formula?  Does this have anything to do with the visit of the princesses?

I enjoyed this book so much.  I thought the mystery was top notch and the various mysteries kept me guessing all through the novel.  I loved the characters. Stella and Lyndy had a great, sweet romance between them.  I loved Stella’s pluck.    All of the other characters were interesting as well.  The York setting was fascinating and had me looking up things after I finished the book.

This is the fourth book in the series.  I was fine reading it as a standalone, but it does make me want to go back and read the rest of the series!  I have already purchased the first book.

Murder at the Majestic Hotel will be available on October 25th!

Review Copy from author Clara McKenna and Netgalley.  Thank-you! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.