Add a Pinch of Poison by Nora Drew

September 7, 2026 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

Ms. Drew reached out about her Minnesota Thrift Shop cozy mystery series. I had not read any of them before and it was so much fun and such a treat to have a protagonist who was more my age (on the other side of 50 ahem…). And her shop is called Once Upon A Find – love that!!

Here’s the scoop about her latest: Add a Pinch of Poison. Find out what happens when a recipe box is discovered in the thrift shop and it looks like a recipe for murder!

Thrift shop owner Maggie Doyle is delighted when her grandson Parker starts bringing Gianna, the lovely Italian exchange student (he definitely does not have a crush on), to spend afternoons at Once Upon a Find.

But when Gianna discovers a hand-painted recipe box marked Dal Vecchio Paese (From the Old Country), the cozy afternoons turn deadly. Inside are treasured Italian recipes… and chilling instructions for poison.

Scrawled in the margins are dates and a name: the witness whose testimony sent an innocent man to prison. When Thaddeus Reynolds died suddenly years later, was it natural—or was it murder?

I loved these characters and look forward to reading more. Thank you for sending me a copy to review! Readers, this is not a long read either, under 200 pages, which is perfect for a weekend afternoon relaxing and reading!

I’m adding a note from Nora herself as I like her overview of the book better:

I’m Nora Drew, lifelong thrifter and author. Through my stories, I bring readers into the world of small-town Minnesota, uncovering hidden secrets in ordinary objects. Thrift shop owner Maggie Doyle is delighted when her grandson Parker brings the lovely Italian exchange student (he definitely does not have a crush on) to spend afternoons at Once Upon a Find. When Gianna discovers a hand-painted recipe box, the cozy afternoons turn deadly. Inside are treasured Italian recipes… and chilling instructions for poison.

And here’s her author bit via Amazon:

Nora Drew is the author of the Thrift Shop Cozy Mysteries, inspired by her lifelong love of secondhand treasures and the stories hidden inside ordinary things. A devoted thrifter, she believes the best mysteries often arrive disguised as forgotten objects—waiting patiently on a shelf for someone curious enough to ask questions.

Nora’s fascination with thrifting goes beyond the hunt for bargains. She’s drawn to the history, humanity, and quiet drama woven into well-worn belongings. Estate sales, rummage rooms, and small-town thrift shops have always felt like story vaults to her, filled with clues about the lives that came before.

At the heart of her writing is a deep appreciation for genuine friendship. Nora loves stories about people who show up for one another, swap theories over coffee, and solve problems together—preferably with humor and heart. Her mysteries are gentle, community-centered, and rooted in curiosity rather than chaos.

When she’s not writing, Nora can usually be found near a lake. She tries to hop in for a swim every day of the year—even in winter—believing that a little cold water is good for clarity and courage. Through her books, Nora invites readers to slow down, look closer, and discover the extraordinary hiding in the everyday.

Me again – I love that bio! Nora sounds like someone I’d like to have a cup of tea with and gab about books, or maybe investigate a vintage shop with. I give her props for swimming in the lake daily (I don’t do “water without sides”), though I do appreciate the serenity of lake life.

Bookouture Blog Tour for Murder Stage Left by Verity Bright

August 26, 2026August 25, 2026 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I just love this series! This is the latest installment in the Lady Eleanor historical cozy mysteries. I love anything that takes place in theaters or on stage, and this one is centered on Shakespeare! Lady Eleanor has found another murder mystery to solve and has her friends and trusty pup to help her!

Here’s the scoop:

Lady Swift and her handsome husband Hugh Seldon are totally charmed by the picturesque town where Shakespeare once lived. Everyone is abuzz with chatter about the upcoming production of Macbeth… But wait, is that a body backstage?

Dashing showman Richard Ratcliffe is set to return to the stage at the famous Shakespeare Memorial theatre. But when priceless items belonging to Shakespeare himself go missing from the theatre’s collection, Eleanor knows someone has gone off-book…

Then the beautiful old theatre is set on fire. The gang are horror-struck, and while racing to help, Eleanor’s loyal butler Clifford discovers an act of foul play: Ratcliffe, the show’s leading man, is dead inside from a blow to the head. Was the fire a deliberate distraction to cover up the murder? Hugh believes Ratcliffe may have caught the thief in the act, but Eleanor isn’t so certain.

With the production in tatters, the cast and crew are flailing. Everyone is playing a part and Eleanor needs to decide who is putting on a deadly show and who is telling the truth. Did the director have more to gain from the insurance money than a standing ovation? Maybe the leading lady feared she was about to be upstaged?

Hunting for local gossip at the town tearoom, Eleanor discovers Ratcliffe had secrets he was desperate to keep from stealing the show… But the culprit is waiting in the wings. And it’s only a matter of time before Eleanor steps too far into their deadly spotlight. Can she catch the killer before it’s curtains for her too?

A totally delightful historical cozy murder mystery. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, L.B. Hathaway and Lee Strauss will fly through the pages!

About the Author:

Verity Bright –

Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.

Thank you for my copy and for having me on the tour!

Spotlight on the Purrs and Puzzles Cat Café Cozy Mystery series by Samantha Noble

July 4, 2026 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

Author Samantha Noble reached out to me about her cozy mystery series and while I am totally swamped with TBR books, I had to spotlight it because it looks WONDERFUL and I want to read it. Now I’m really a dog person, not a cat person as we are all allergic to cats; but I love all animals and pets and I love when a series ties in animals. This protagonist owns a cat café, a type of place I have always wanted to visit but alas, I do value our ability as a family to breathe so we don’t go. I admire from afar.

Here’s the scoop:

(image of print, digital, and audio versions of book in cozy setting with cat mug, headphones, magnifying glass, and warm throw, in front of fireplace with fire and lit candles) TRANSPORT ME THERE IMMEDIATELY PLEASE.

In Blueprints, Blackmail, And A British Shorthair, the tranquil life of Emma Clark is shattered when a renowned architect is murdered and a web of secrets entangles her beloved Savannah cat café. Drawn into the heart of the investigation by a cryptic set of blueprints and a sinister blackmail plot, Emma, alongside her clever British Shorthair, Purrlock Holmes, and steadfast Detective Jake Malone must navigate a maze of hidden motives, old vendettas, and dangerous lies. With small-town intrigue, feline charm, and a twist-filled mystery, this cozy whodunit will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Here’s the overview on Amazon:

Sometimes the truth is hidden in plain sight—and sometimes it’s curled up at your feet.

Running Purrs & Puzzles Cat Café in Savannah’s historic district means Emma Clark hears plenty of gossip. But when wealthy developer Garrison Faulk is found dead behind a nearby building, gossip quickly turns into suspicion.

The crime scene contains a clue that points uncomfortably close to Emma’s café, and before long, rumors are spreading faster than fresh coffee. With longtime residents guarding old grudges, business owners protecting secrets, and a growing list of suspects with motives to spare, Emma finds herself tangled in a murder that reaches far beyond a simple real-estate dispute.

Determined to uncover the truth, Emma follows a trail of hidden agendas, blackmail, and dangerous secrets buried beneath Savannah’s polished charm. Alongside her best friend Lizzie, a detective who would rather avoid cats, and Purrlock Holmes—the British Shorthair who always seems to notice what everyone else misses—Emma races to expose a killer before her reputation, her business, and the people she cares about become the next casualties.

In Savannah, some secrets are worth a fortune.

Others are worth killing for.

Perfect for fans of Ellery Adams, Sofie Kelly, and mysteries with a cozy café packed with charming cats, hidden secrets, and Southern atmosphere.

I believe you can read these titles as stand alones as well as in order.

Thanks so much for reaching out! I look forward to exploring this series!

About the Author:

Samantha Noble is the author of the Hazelwood High Jinx and Purrs & Puzzles Cat Café cozy mystery series, where the gossip is juicy, the animals sometimes seem smarter than the humans, and the bodies always seem to turn up at the worst possible time.

Set in small towns bursting with secrets (and the occasional sass from a parrot or a dog or a cat), Samantha’s mysteries blend humor, heart, and whodunits that’ll keep you guessing. Whether you’re following a curious innkeeper, a determined cat café owner, or a parrot with a taste for drama, you’re in for a delightful dose of cozy crime-solving.

When she’s not writing or wrangling plot twists with her editors or VA Chad Penwright, or getting suggestions from her Beta Team or ARC team, Samantha is likely sipping something caffeinated, daydreaming about her next book cover, or driving around town plotting murders (fictional ones—promise!).

Here’s a theme song Samantha Noble sent me for Purrlock Holmes the main cat character: https://suno.com/s/8SReRMRYa5kdPJcY

Fun!

Bookouture Blog Tour for: Murder at the Cornish Book Club by Fliss Chester

July 1, 2026 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I absolutely adore this new series by Fliss Chester and I know you will, too, if you are a reader of cozies that take place in England. Maddie is a great main character and I love her grandmother Nor, who is quite intrepid. Always well-plotted, Fliss Chester has another great series underway! I love the focus on books, the setting of Cornwall, and the variety of characters. Fun all around! If you follow me, you know I have really enjoyed her Cressida Fawcett historical cozy series as well. And hold everything — do I see a Christmas themed cozy upcoming for Maddie?? Can not wait!!

Here’s the scoop:

Join Maddie Penrose, scone baker, book lover and amateur sleuth, in her new home by the Cornish seaside. A member of her local book club has been murdered, and she’s on the case!

Maddie Penroseis settling into Cornish life with her fun and feisty grandmother, Nor. She throws herself into getting to know the locals, helping out at the village book club and enjoying the occasional G&T in the pub with handsome police officer DI Tom Trevelyan. But one sunny morning, her newfound peace is shattered when she spots Quentin, a member of the book club… dead, with a knife in his back.

To Maddie’s surprise, it transpires that almost all the other members of the book club have a motive to murder Quentin. Quentin’s own wife, a fellow reader, seems to be hiding something. The local romance author isn’t all sweetness and light, and another writer is keeping secrets. But is one of the book lovers in the sleepy seaside village really responsible for Quentin’s untimely death?

No sooner has the ink dried on the page of the first killing, another takes place – and the second victim is also a member of the book club! As Maddie frantically scrambles to get her clues down in black and white, she unearths a discovery connected to Nor. Is her gran the next victim on the list?

Can Maddie rescue Nor before her story ends in murder too? Or will the killer have the last word?

Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/fliss-chester
Website: https://flisschester.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flisschester
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flisschester/

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

Bookouture Blog Tour for The Book Club Murders by Maggie Allswell

May 25, 2026May 20, 2026 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m so happy to be part of the tour for this new cozy series which is a murder mystery but also laugh out loud funny. I love that the characters are diverse and of various ages and abilities, too.

Here’s the scoop:

What Judy’s book club doesn’t know about murder mysteries isn’t worth writing about. Nothing beats cracking a fictional case over some wine and salt and vinegar crisps. But can they put their puzzle-solving skills to the test when the local librarian dies in a real-life murder?

For widower Judy, her murder book club is the highlight of the month: she gets to hear all the local gossip and even discuss a good fictitious poisoning or two. But when local librarian Wendy disappears, Judy follows in the footsteps of her fictional detective heroes only to find her dead in her home, clasping a copy of Romeo and Juliet…

The police rule it a tragic accident, but Judy knows that her friend hated Shakespeare, and suspects foul play. Gathering her fellow book lovers together, soon they discover that several townspeople had motive to want Wendy dead. Was it Nigel from the tavern, who may have been Wendy’s secret boyfriend? Or could it be Bryan, the local bookshop owner, tangled in a bitter rivalry with the library?

The plot thickens at a charity murder mystery night held at Nigel’s tavern. Suddenly more murders come to light, both real and very badly staged. And when Nigel makes an astonishing revelation, the book club agree it’s a plot twist no-one saw coming. Can Judy and her book club solve the mystery before they too fall victim to a killer plot?

An utterly addictive and hilarious new cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Robert Thorogood and Faith Martin.

Here’s a bit about the author:

Tracy started writing when her cruel, heartless husband ripped her away from her dream job – shopping for rollercoasters for the UK’s leading theme parks – to live in America with a brand new baby and no mates. In a cunning plan to avoid domestic duties and people who didn’t understand her Derbyshire accent, she wrote NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY.
It went on to become a No 1 bestseller and publishing phenomenon. So now Tracy has a new dream job, making people laugh and sometimes cry through her writing and has had many more novels published successfully around the world. She now lives back in Derbyshire with her now wonderful husband and two children!

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/maggie-allswell

Thank you so much for having me on the tour for this new series. I look forward to reading the next installment! Thank you for my review copy.

Voted Most Likely to Murder by Lacey Moone

May 4, 2026 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

My friends at Crooked Lane Books sent me several options of cozies to read this spring and one I chose was Voted Most Likely to Murder by Lacey Moone. Loved this fun read about a murder at a high school reunion. Who doesn’t like a good reunion story where chaos ensues? So much fun and well-written, too!

Thank you for my copy!!

Here’s the scoop:

A high school reunion comes to an abrupt end when the dead body of the class jock shocks the school’s gymnasium in this cozy mystery debut, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Eva Gates.

Belinda Bishop is unemployed and single. At thirty-two, her journalism career feels stuck, and let’s not even speak about her love life, which isn’t helping her look forward to her upcoming high school reunion. Stuck working at her parents’ seaside cottage and RV park in Nova Scotia for the time being, she needs time to regroup and come up with a killer story to get her career and her life back on track.

When she literally stumbles across the dead body of the philandering class jock at the reunion, the party quickly comes to a stop. At first, it seems like the perfect opportunity for Belinda to channel her inner Christianne Amanpour, until her childhood-best-friend-turned-nemesis, Jolene Dexter, is declared the prime suspect. Despite their falling out, Belinda is convinced the former pageant queen is innocent.

As the two women struggle to put aside their differences, they have to work together to catch the real murderer before this sleepy coastal town is rocked to its foundations.

This romp of a mystery is perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Benjamin Stevenson.

Murder in a Cornish Tea Shop by Fliss Chester

March 14, 2026March 10, 2026 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I’m excited to dish about a new cozy mystery series by the author who brought us Cressida Faucett – Fliss Chester. This is Murder in a Cornish Teashop and it’s the first in the Maddie Penrose mysteries. I really enjoyed it and enjoyed the characters of Maddie and her spunky Grandmother, Nor.

Here’s the scoop:

A Cornish clifftop, a sunny afternoon, a quaint little teashop… but wait a minute. Is that jam, or blood? Maddie Penrose is determined to find out!

Maddie Penrose is staying with her beloved grandmother, Nor, at her gorgeously idyllic Cornish farm. She’s looking forward to days helping out in Nor’s little teashop and evenings wandering down the cliff path to watch the sunset. But before Maddie has even finished serving up scones on her first morning, a man bursts through the door: Nor’s neighbour Clive has found a body in the field behind the teashop…

Maddie is straight to the scene, fancying herself as a bit of an Agatha Christie. But solving this mystery is far from a piece of cake. Her list of suspects is jam-packed with locals, with some a little too close to home: the newcomer renting out one of Nor’s barns is acting suspiciously, the victim’s boyfriend has disappeared without trace, and Clive isn’t really Maddie’s cup of tea either…

But the proof is in the pudding when there’s another murder – her prime suspect is dead. And when Maddie finds a backpack belonging to the first murder victim, her diligent notetaking and quick thinking leads her to discover that the killer will act again, and soon. Maddie is horrified to discover that it looks like she is their next target…

Can Maddie and Nor work as a team to piece together the puzzle? Or will murdering Maddie be the icing on the cake for the killer?

A totally addictive, witty and warm cozy mystery that will keep you reading late into the night, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright.

About the Author:

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

Bookouture Blog Tour for MURDER ON THE CLOCK by Lucy Connelly

November 14, 2025November 14, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I was excited to receive a copy of the latest installment in the Mercy McCarthy Mysteries. Mercy and her twin sister run a bookshop in Ireland and are US transplants. I love these cozy mysteries and the characters in them!

Here’s the scoop on this one:

The town of Shamrock Cove is gearing up for a grand summer festival… but the fête turns fatal when a clockmaker is killed. Can amateur sleuth Mercy McCarthy crack the case?

When Mercy McCarthy takes her beloved mother’s watch to be fixed, she’s completely charmed by the little repair store and the father-and-son duo who run it. Little does she know that the clock is ticking… when she returns, she finds the father lying unconscious amid broken glass, and her mother’s watch is missing.

The police think Mr. Flynn was attacked in a burglary gone wrong but soon suspects closer to home start coming out of the clockwork. Mercy, her sister, and their canine sidekick, master body sniffer-outer Mr. Poe, set out to gather clues and help the local detective find the killer.

Could it be the family next door to the Flynns who’ve been feuding for decades? His fiercest rival, who’s long dreamed of shutting him down? Or was his son less devoted than he seemed? As the hours tick away, another murder and the discovery of a long-buried secret changes everything…

The summer festival is fast approaching. Can Mercy solve the mystery in the nick of time, or will someone stop her clock?

A completely charming and page-turning Irish cozy mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor and Faith Martin will absolutely love the Mercy McCarthy series!

About the Author:

Bestselling author Candace Havens has published more than 25 books. Her novels have received nominations for the RITA’s, Holt Medallion, Write Touch Reader Awards and National Reader’s Choice Awards. She is a Barbara Wilson Award winner. She is the author of the biography Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities from George Clooney to Chris Pratt. Candace runs a free online writing workshop for more than 2000 writers and teaches comprehensive writing classes. She does film reviews with Hawkeye in the Morning on 96.3 KSCS, and is a former President of the Television Critics Association.

Thank you for my copy and for having me as part of the tour!

Bookouture Blog Tour for MURDER MOST BRITISH by Helena Dixon

November 11, 2025November 13, 2025 / drbethnolan / Leave a comment

I truly enjoy this “Secret Detective Agency” series, so I was thrilled to be part of the blog tour for the latest installment, Murder Most British.

Here’s the scoop:

Big Ben chiming in the distance, chilly walks along the river Thames, cocktails at the Ritz… and a government secretary dead? Only Jane Treen can solve the case!

London, 1941. Miss Jane Treen is faced with another mysterious disappearance within her Secret Detective Agency’s team. Tabitha Moore, a government typist, was on her way to meet Jane with vital information about some secret codes. But she didn’t turn up for work and has seemingly vanished without trace. Then Jane and her colleague, handsome codebreaker Arthur Cilento, receive a call: a body has been found, and it matches Tabitha’s description…

It quickly becomes clear that Tabitha’s death was not due to ongoing air raids on the city: the silk scarf tied tightly around her neck suggests otherwise. The prime suspect is Tabitha’s fiancé Leo Cavendish, a dashing government official, but there are plenty of others with a motive too. Jane and Arthur scrutinise those around Tabitha at work and at home, including a charming newsreader reporting on government affairs, a jealous pianist in love with Leo, and a known womaniser and gambler fond of causing trouble.

Together, Jane, Arthur and her fluffy ginger cat Marmaduke hole up in her London townhouse, with black coffee in plentiful supply and a roaring fire in the grate. But just as they begin to piece together the puzzle, someone else is found dead. It’s clear they need to step up and catch the killer on the loose in the big smoke, before it’s their turn next…

If you love twisty crime novels, top-secret intrigue and the very best of Golden Age mysteries, then you will adore Helena Dixon’s totally gripping cozy novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Verity Bright!

Here’s a bit about Helena Dixon:

Helena Dixon is a Black Country woman living in Devon. Married to the same man for over forty years she has three daughters, two grandsons, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon. She now writes historical 1930’s and 40’s set cozy crime. Helena enjoys hearing from readers and you can read her news and contact her via her website, visit her blog, find her on Twitter/X @NellDixon and friend her on Facebook or follow her on instagram or Threads.

I think I love this series so much because it, in part, reminds me of the Maggie Hope series by Susan MacNeal. I always love a plucky, intelligent heroine!

Thank you for my copy and for making me part of the tour!

Bookouture Blog Tour for Murder at the Royal Palace – a Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery – by Verity Bright

September 30, 2025September 27, 2025 / drbethnolan / 1 Comment

Where oh where would I be without my beloved British (the best!) cozy mysteries? They are like a warm cup of tea and an escape from the world. I adore the protagonists (often smart, bold women – and many own dogs). This series is a historical one which adds to my delight. And honestly, you can read these books out of order or just read a few, but I’ve read them all, I believe, and I am always in awe that I could have read over 20 of these books and never found them predictable or boring.

This one was fun as it starts with Eleanor at the Palace. She is a bit cheeky and certainly never a shrinking violet. She gets involved in yet another murder. I thought this one was particularly well-plotted – and, as always, fun!

Thank you for having me as part of the tour and for my copy.

Book Description:

Lady Eleanor Swift has a special royal invitation. She’s got just the right dress and the perfect plus one… But wait! Is that a body by the throne?

Lady Eleanor Swift is at Buckingham Palace to see her new husband, Detective Chief Inspector Seldon, knighted. Brimming with pride, all she can hope is that Gladstone the bulldog behaves himself in front of the king.

But the happy day is overshadowed when Dilly Dalrymple, a royal guard, collapses. The head of the royal police asks Eleanor and Hugh to investigate the murder – unofficially. This is her first clue that there’s more to the story…

Donning a disguise as a journalist for a well-to-do magazine, Eleanor, with butler Clifford posing as her photographer interview the high-profile guests and residents at the palace. She wasn’t expecting gossiping wives, affairs aplenty and talk of long-lost treasure! Was Dilly killed to settle an old score or was he perhaps a little too close to someone else’s wife?

But when another soldier is murdered at midnight, hours after the palace gates are locked, Eleanor knows she needs to keep her wits about her… And when everyone seems to have a reason to lie, can Eleanor dig up the truth before it’s her head next?

A totally gripping royal whodunnit full of twists, set in 1920s London. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, Catherine Coles and Lee Strauss will be utterly obsessed!

Author Bio: