lakecake's review
4.0
This was a really enjoyable cozy. While a lot of the plot was fueled by barely-believable coincidences, a) that's sort of par for the course for most cozies and b) it really didn't distract from the enjoyment of reading it while I was reading it--it's more like it hit me afterward how unlikely it was. I like the characters and the setting, and I'm looking forward to more of this series.
caitkom's review
4.0
When Merry's uncle was murdered she learned that she was his sole heir and had inherited Winter Castle, a literal castle in upstate New York. Merry is getting it ready for sale when a man claiming to be her cousin shows up and claims that he wants half the money from the sale. Merry decides to throw a party to show off the castle in hopes that a wealthy New Yorker will want to buy it. During the course of the party Merry stumbles upon a body. Merry is launched into yet another investigation when all evidence points to her dear friend Pish. This was a pretty good read. I enjoy the characters and seeing how the castle evolves. There wasn't as much cooking and muffin related stuff in this one as the first one which was kind of disappointing.
asanford's review against another edition
4.0
Adoring this series! Love the castle, the list of characters, and the complex mysteries.
iffer's review
3.0
I've enjoyed the first two books in this series because I enjoy the main character and her unexpected quest to build a new life in a small-ish town with chosen family. The books feel a bit longer than most cozy mysteries, and I'm less concerned about solving the murder than what happens to the main character and the renovations of the castle that she inherited >_<
govmarley's review
2.0
Merry is getting more annoying by the chapter. Now that I think about it, every character is pretty annoying. But since I am a sucker for cozies, I am sure I will read book 3.
gotoboston's review
4.0
Again, another really solid cozy mystery story. I really liked that this book had a connection with the first one. It wasn't just some random new comer murdered but actually a guy who had history with the murderer from the first book. In a way, this book felt like just an extension of the second book. Lots of the little plots are wrapped up here and the question of whether Merry will keep the castle is still up in the air. Overall, I'm curious to see what happens next.
lookatjimmy's review
2.0
Did I like it? No.
Have I placed a hold on the next one in the series? Yes.
At least there’s the recipes at the end of each book to look forward to. Might mess around and make some savoury herb muffins.
Have I placed a hold on the next one in the series? Yes.
At least there’s the recipes at the end of each book to look forward to. Might mess around and make some savoury herb muffins.
rickijill's review
5.0
This week I read the first two Merry Muffin mysteries. A couple of weeks ago I read the third one, Death of an English Muffin. You may read my review of it in a separate post.
From Victoria Hamilton's Website:
"Merry Wynter didn’t know a lot about her family until she finally made her way to take possession of her inherited castle near the town of Autumn Vale, in upstate New York.
Though she intended to do a quick fix and put it back on the market, she realizes if she is ever going to find out her family history on the Wynter side, this is the place to do it.
Baking muffins, investigating murders, making friends... and enemies... among the quirky residents of Autumn Vale, keeps Merry busy, and local Sheriff Virgil Grace keeps her heart rate high.
Though the widowed Merry still carries a torch in her heart for her late husband, photographer Miguel Paradiso, maybe there is enough room there for a new flame?
With her wonderful friends Pish Lincoln and Shilo Dinnegan, who have joined her at the castle, Merry is starting to find it hard to imagine leaving the ancestral home of her Wynter ancesters. If folks wouldn't keep getting murdered, it would be pretty much perfect!"
The first in the series, Bran New Death, introduces us to Merry and her friends. I absolutely adore Merry. She's a very well-developed character, and I feel like I know her. She's the type of girl I like to befriend, and I really want her to find a way to stay in Autumn Vale in her lovely castle. But first she needs to figure out who's vandalizing her property by digging deep holes all over the lawn. Late one night, she finds a body in the bottom of one of the holes, and the victim is the very person she suspects is the vandal! The very handsome Sheriff Virgil Grace is on the case, and he becomes a little annoyed with Merry because of her unsanctioned sleuthing, yet at the same time, he's worried for her as the body count rises on her estate. Unfortunately the murder mysteries leave little time for Merry to renovate the castle and solve the mysteries haunting Merry about the Wynter side of her family.
The second book in the Merry Muffin series is Muffin but Murder. This one is my favorite in the series so far. Merry has invited potential buyers to her castle for a Halloween masquerade. An uninvited guest is brutally murdered, and since several other costumed and masked guests are actual crashers, how can Sheriff Grace even begin to investigate potential suspects of the crime? And you know that Merry will find the time to do some investigating on her own in between cooking muffins for the community and meals for her friends. I like the cast of characters, and there are many surprises in this mystery. Merry and the other quirky residents of Autumn Vale are so entertaining that I cannot wait for the next installment in this adorable cozy mystery series.
An added bonus: recipes in the back of each book!
From Victoria Hamilton's Website:
"Merry Wynter didn’t know a lot about her family until she finally made her way to take possession of her inherited castle near the town of Autumn Vale, in upstate New York.
Though she intended to do a quick fix and put it back on the market, she realizes if she is ever going to find out her family history on the Wynter side, this is the place to do it.
Baking muffins, investigating murders, making friends... and enemies... among the quirky residents of Autumn Vale, keeps Merry busy, and local Sheriff Virgil Grace keeps her heart rate high.
Though the widowed Merry still carries a torch in her heart for her late husband, photographer Miguel Paradiso, maybe there is enough room there for a new flame?
With her wonderful friends Pish Lincoln and Shilo Dinnegan, who have joined her at the castle, Merry is starting to find it hard to imagine leaving the ancestral home of her Wynter ancesters. If folks wouldn't keep getting murdered, it would be pretty much perfect!"
The first in the series, Bran New Death, introduces us to Merry and her friends. I absolutely adore Merry. She's a very well-developed character, and I feel like I know her. She's the type of girl I like to befriend, and I really want her to find a way to stay in Autumn Vale in her lovely castle. But first she needs to figure out who's vandalizing her property by digging deep holes all over the lawn. Late one night, she finds a body in the bottom of one of the holes, and the victim is the very person she suspects is the vandal! The very handsome Sheriff Virgil Grace is on the case, and he becomes a little annoyed with Merry because of her unsanctioned sleuthing, yet at the same time, he's worried for her as the body count rises on her estate. Unfortunately the murder mysteries leave little time for Merry to renovate the castle and solve the mysteries haunting Merry about the Wynter side of her family.
The second book in the Merry Muffin series is Muffin but Murder. This one is my favorite in the series so far. Merry has invited potential buyers to her castle for a Halloween masquerade. An uninvited guest is brutally murdered, and since several other costumed and masked guests are actual crashers, how can Sheriff Grace even begin to investigate potential suspects of the crime? And you know that Merry will find the time to do some investigating on her own in between cooking muffins for the community and meals for her friends. I like the cast of characters, and there are many surprises in this mystery. Merry and the other quirky residents of Autumn Vale are so entertaining that I cannot wait for the next installment in this adorable cozy mystery series.
An added bonus: recipes in the back of each book!
lunasmaria's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
I really like this book and the series is progressing.
Again, this Cozy Mystery has no trouble drawing me into it.
If you liked the others this is a great continuation.
I really like this book and the series is progressing.
Again, this Cozy Mystery has no trouble drawing me into it.
If you liked the others this is a great continuation.