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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Expected this fo be a cosy crime due to the cover and description. There are smutty and crude jokes throughout that I wasn't expecting. I wouldn't have started had I know as this isn't for me personally.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
May Morrigan is in her bookshop one morning when she—and everyone else in the shop—receives an anonymous text. It contains a reference to a Shakespeare quotation—and seems to be aimed at the vicar and his partner, Juan. The next morning, one of them is dead.
I requested a copy of this book to review as I'm a sucker for cosy mysteries with cute animal sidekicks, and now I'm kicking myself very hard.
I do not know how I've missed this series. A "cosy" crime caper, heavy on the humour, some of it very dark indeed but enough to make me laugh so loud, I woke the cat up. It's exactly the book I needed to read right now. It's not a gentle cosy, it's an absolute riot.
While I hadn't read the first in the series, the novel is set up well and characters introduced and explained, so I didn't feel I was missing out having not read the first. May and co trying hard to solve the murder and the mystery of the texts everyone is receiving, trying to prevent further murder, while her own mother is trying to find ways for May to end her long life. The characters in the cast are big and loud, and I loved every one of them! I've immediately gone out and picked up the first in the series, and I can't wait for more adventures in the bookshop.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books Audio and Netgalley for this review copy.
It was nice to get back to May and her crew of friends (and her mother) in the village with all of it's antics. I love this cast of characters and listening to things that they get up to and how many people die in this little village especially where everyone knows each other. The audiobook was very well produced and I loved the narrator who is completing the book - especially with the different voices for the different characters. I can not wait for the next book to come out for this series .... I love this village and characters so much.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the second book in The Most Unusual Mysteries series and we're back with May and Fletcher for another wild ride! This time anonymous messages are sent to anyone within the vicinity of the bookshop at 10am sharp accusing people of commiting various sins. When their friend, Juan, is found dead from poisoning May and Fletcher are straight on the case with help from Minty, Bastian and Sparks.
I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first. I feel like we got to see into the lives of the characters much more and understand what drives them. I loved Minty! She was such a great addition to the book! All of her interactions with the characters had me laughing and she didn't fail to surprise.
The mystery was so intriguing and getting little snippets of clues through text was genius. I raced through this audiobook so I could see how it ended. I didn't see the ending coming at all, though! It all tied together neatly when I look back but I just didn't put the clues together.
I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first. I feel like we got to see into the lives of the characters much more and understand what drives them. I loved Minty! She was such a great addition to the book! All of her interactions with the characters had me laughing and she didn't fail to surprise.
The mystery was so intriguing and getting little snippets of clues through text was genius. I raced through this audiobook so I could see how it ended. I didn't see the ending coming at all, though! It all tied together neatly when I look back but I just didn't put the clues together.
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a review copy of the audiobook format of this book.
This is the second book in the series. Having gone into this book without having read or listened to the first book in the series I wasn't sure what to expect, but it works well as a standalone. There is ample character and world development, so much so I kept forgetting it was the second book in a series.
This book falls really nicely into the cosy murder mystery category, keeping the intrigue and suspense required to create a gripping mystery while interspersing this with lighthearted, funny and heartfelt moments. You are kept guessing right up until the reveal which happens in a rather shocking and gruesome setting (I wouldn't recommend reading this book just before or just after eating, especially if you're a bit squeamish).
I enjoyed the story and mystery immensely and had this book been in a different format it may have received 5*. However I really struggled with the voices put on by the narrator and found the way the book was narrated took away from the story, hence the 4*.
This is the second book in the series. Having gone into this book without having read or listened to the first book in the series I wasn't sure what to expect, but it works well as a standalone. There is ample character and world development, so much so I kept forgetting it was the second book in a series.
This book falls really nicely into the cosy murder mystery category, keeping the intrigue and suspense required to create a gripping mystery while interspersing this with lighthearted, funny and heartfelt moments. You are kept guessing right up until the reveal which happens in a rather shocking and gruesome setting (I wouldn't recommend reading this book just before or just after eating, especially if you're a bit squeamish).
I enjoyed the story and mystery immensely and had this book been in a different format it may have received 5*. However I really struggled with the voices put on by the narrator and found the way the book was narrated took away from the story, hence the 4*.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Katherine Black's "The Most Unusual Mysteries" #cozymystery series proves the adage "don't judge a book by its cover better than any book I've yet to encounter. The adorable dachshunds on the front made me think it would be the coziest of cozies I'd ever read.
This is such an interesting take on the cozy crime genre. It definitely harkens back to an earlier day of cozy crime, when it was edgier and took bigger chances. Cozies are frequently sanitized and clean, like murder is very much beside the point. This book is absolutely a #murderbook - no doubt about it.
As a lover of #cozymysteries - the cozier the better - you'd think that means I didn't enjoy the book, but you would be wrong. I frequently enjoy when a writer takes something I love and subverts it, turning it on its head. As long as they do it well. Ms. Katherine Black has broken the "rules" of modern-day cozies like a true artist.
Though, maybe she has really stuck with the rules. May, our unlikely sleuth, is a retired librarian, even if she has a few secrets. Her dependable sidekick and cast of zany, small-town characters are super loveable, if not a lot more edgy than most. And Minty, whom I thought I would not like at first, turned out to be a delight.
The romantic encounters were another spot of fresh air. While everything remained closed door, which is how I prefer it, for once there was no pretense that s3x didn't exist. This is one of my complaints about typical cozies. They're sweet and adorable, but even the nicest men I've ever met are not as patient as them. This is cozy mystery for the grown-up crowd, and I'm here for it.
This series is filled with dark humor, and can get graphic. Be sure to check content warnings and know that there are some morally grey characters at the center of the book. This is not your typical cozy mystery, but if you will give it a chance, I think you will absolutely love it! I can't wait to see more from Katherine Black. I will wait (probably not so) patiently watching for the next book to come out.
If you love a good cozy, but also have found some love for some of the old-school edgier ones like the "Goldy Bear" mysteries and the "Odelia Grey" ones that started in the 90s and probably should have had some trigger warnings, these are fantastic for you! And, if dark humor, cute pups, and zany friendships and relationships are your jam, pick this book up! You can read it as a standalone, but since I'm a completionist, I'd recommend starting with the first in the series "A Most Unusual Demise."
Content Warnings: Murder, Violence, Transphobia, Homophobia, Religious Ideas, Sexual Shaming, Adult Language, Adult Situations, Implied Harm to Animals (Off Page), Unintentional Cannibalism, Crude Humor, Dark Humor, Discussion of Suicide, Suicidal Ideations, Assisted Suicide
This is such an interesting take on the cozy crime genre. It definitely harkens back to an earlier day of cozy crime, when it was edgier and took bigger chances. Cozies are frequently sanitized and clean, like murder is very much beside the point. This book is absolutely a #murderbook - no doubt about it.
As a lover of #cozymysteries - the cozier the better - you'd think that means I didn't enjoy the book, but you would be wrong. I frequently enjoy when a writer takes something I love and subverts it, turning it on its head. As long as they do it well. Ms. Katherine Black has broken the "rules" of modern-day cozies like a true artist.
Though, maybe she has really stuck with the rules. May, our unlikely sleuth, is a retired librarian, even if she has a few secrets. Her dependable sidekick and cast of zany, small-town characters are super loveable, if not a lot more edgy than most. And Minty, whom I thought I would not like at first, turned out to be a delight.
The romantic encounters were another spot of fresh air. While everything remained closed door, which is how I prefer it, for once there was no pretense that s3x didn't exist. This is one of my complaints about typical cozies. They're sweet and adorable, but even the nicest men I've ever met are not as patient as them. This is cozy mystery for the grown-up crowd, and I'm here for it.
This series is filled with dark humor, and can get graphic. Be sure to check content warnings and know that there are some morally grey characters at the center of the book. This is not your typical cozy mystery, but if you will give it a chance, I think you will absolutely love it! I can't wait to see more from Katherine Black. I will wait (probably not so) patiently watching for the next book to come out.
If you love a good cozy, but also have found some love for some of the old-school edgier ones like the "Goldy Bear" mysteries and the "Odelia Grey" ones that started in the 90s and probably should have had some trigger warnings, these are fantastic for you! And, if dark humor, cute pups, and zany friendships and relationships are your jam, pick this book up! You can read it as a standalone, but since I'm a completionist, I'd recommend starting with the first in the series "A Most Unusual Demise."
Content Warnings: Murder, Violence, Transphobia, Homophobia, Religious Ideas, Sexual Shaming, Adult Language, Adult Situations, Implied Harm to Animals (Off Page), Unintentional Cannibalism, Crude Humor, Dark Humor, Discussion of Suicide, Suicidal Ideations, Assisted Suicide
lighthearted
fast-paced
For me, two dachshunds that resemble my own on the cover of a book was motivation for me to read “A Most Malicious Messenger” by Katherine Black. This is another cozy comedic mystery read for me this year. May Morrigan is a retired librarian running a bookshop, and lives with her mother Minty, and her best friend Fletcher (who owns two doxies!). The mayhem begins when an anonymous text is received May, followed by a death in the village. And another death. All in a not so cozy manner!
Add to this another story weaving in Minty’s past that is keeping May more intrigued than ever, and as the sleuthing begins, the anonymous texter decides to focus their attention in Fletcher. While the murder mysteries play out, the book is balanced out with a lot of light humour. I think that if I had read the first book I would have had more of a connection to May and Fletcher however I was able to read it as a stand alone book.
It was clever how the reveals occurred and that you were kept guessing along the way through the story. If you’re looking for a book to curl up wit on a holiday or a weekend, this one will be one to entertain you.
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
I didn't realise that this was book 2 of a series, but it didn't matter. I usually write my reviews by making notes once I've finished and then making them into coherent sentences. But my notes for this one are so great that I'm largely leaving them. They are random, but that sums up how the book was for me. That's not a bad thing by the way. I loved it!
It feels odd to refer to a book as a 'cosy murder mystery'. Murder shouldn't be cosy. And yet it's the perfect description for A Most Malicious Messenger. I pretty much devoured it in one go, curled up under a blanket.
The whole story was ridiculously far fetched, preposterously unbelievable and yet compelling and brilliant. Carrying a dead man through the caves to the church? Absolutly insane.
I love Minty, what a woman! I think I'd like to be just like her when I'm old.
I thought the brief discussion around Fletcher/Barbara was interesting, should a male writer win women's writing awards? Does it matter that no one knows Barbara is actually a man?
It feels odd to refer to a book as a 'cosy murder mystery'. Murder shouldn't be cosy. And yet it's the perfect description for A Most Malicious Messenger. I pretty much devoured it in one go, curled up under a blanket.
The whole story was ridiculously far fetched, preposterously unbelievable and yet compelling and brilliant. Carrying a dead man through the caves to the church? Absolutly insane.
I love Minty, what a woman! I think I'd like to be just like her when I'm old.
I thought the brief discussion around Fletcher/Barbara was interesting, should a male writer win women's writing awards? Does it matter that no one knows Barbara is actually a man?