Saturday, February 18, 2017

Murder in a Basket


GIVEAWAY

FLOWER, AMANDA
MURDER IN A BASKET

College librarian, and struggling arts, India Hayes isn't sure how her older sister Carmen talked her into managing a face-painting booth at the Stripling Ohio Founders' Day Festival or how Carmen persuaded her to wear a pink gingham pioneer dress, including mob-cap and granny boots. But that's where -- and how -- she finds herself on a chilly October day just before Halloween.

India's annoyance is forgotten when she discovers the body of basket weaver Tess Ross on the festival grounds. Tess leaves behind an angry blacksmith husband, a confused adopted son, greedy siblings, a dysfunctional artists' co-op, and a chocolate-colored labradoodle with a two-million-dollar trust in his name. Much to India's dismay, she learns Tess is the sister of her stuffy college provost, Samuel Lepcheck, and the mother of a library student worker, Derek, who has an irrepressible crush on India that she's doing her best to ignore. Derek begs India to investigate his mother's murder.

Despite the urgings of handsome Police Detective Rick Mains to stay out of the investigation, India agrees to Derek's request and finds herself playing sleuth as well as foster-owner to Zacchaeus, the two-million-dollar labradoodle.

With her own eccentric family commenting from the sidelines and her Irish-centric landlady, Ina Carroll, as a volunteer sidekick, India must discover the truth before she has a permanent canine houseguest or ends up the next victim of Tess's murderer.

My Review:

Published in 2012

Quirky cozy mystery that ticks all the boxes. Librarian and amateur sleuth heroine, a cryptic police detective who sends mixed messages, a millionaire labradoodle with a penchant for mischief and a murder to solve. What more could an avid reader ask for? Well, the eccentric septuagenarian landlady sidekick who resembles "a leprechaun training for the British Royal Guard" (p 110) is an added bonus. As is the irony of a cat named Templeton. I grinned my way through the twists and turns of an engaging plot. Plenty of suspects to choose from -- and believe me I thought nearly everyone was guilty at some point. A fun, breezy escape read.

Please note that this book isn't a Christian Fiction selection -- though it is a clean read.

Giveaway Opportunity:

 If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Murder in a Basket please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 19 2017.  Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

25 comments:

  1. I don't mind cozy mysteries as they don't have all the junk I don't like to read in a book. You can usually count on quirky characters, pets of some kind, and a lovely who-done-it theme :-) Count me in!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. As you know I usually only read Christian Fiction -- and that's where I first 'met' Amanda Flower through an Amish mystery series she published with B&H but then I lost track of her until I discovered a main stream Amish cozy mystery series in my library by Isabella Alan who just happened to be Amanda Flower! So now I keep my eye out for cozy mysteries under both names. :-) Good luck, Trixi.

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  2. I Love Cozy Mysteries and this one looks like a fun and great read. Thanks for sharing with us and Thanks for the chance to win Kav. iamabho (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. I do too -- love the quirkiness and humour that accompanies a solid mystery. Good luck, Linda.

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  3. I would love to read this little cozy. Thank you for a great review and giveaway, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  4. I enjoy these books with a lot of twists and turns!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  5. This sounds like a fun story! Thanks for sharing, Kav.

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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  6. I love cozy mysteries; it sounds great; thanks for the chance to win :)
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

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    1. Sometimes only a cozy will hit the spot! Good luck, Lisa.

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  7. Haven't read this one of her's yet. cheetahthecat1986(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. I love a fun mystery with quirky characters. Thanks for the chance!
    eswright18 at gmail dot com

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    1. Quirky characters are my faves.Good luck, Ellie.

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  9. I haven't read any of her books yet but have seen reviews of some of her other books and they sound like good ones to read. Thanks for this review and giveaway. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  10. Cozy mystery under a cozy blanket. Thank you.
    leliamae54@aol.com

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  11. Hi Kav, Cozies are so much fun and very mysterious at the same time. Thanks for the cute review. Jenny
    jennydtipton at gmail dot com

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  12. I've heard of Amanda Flowers but haven't yet read any of her mysteries. Murder in a Basket sounds like just the kind of cozy mystery I enjoy. Thanks for telling us about this book and for the chance to win it.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  13. I haven't read any books by this author, but I'd like to read one her mysteries. Sometimes a cozy mystery is just the perfect read. Thanks for the review.
    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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  14. Good luck Jennifer and Pams. :-)

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  15. Amish, Mystery, and Cozy all in one book?
    Sign me up for the giveaway.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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