Laura Jensen Walker

I marvel at Laura Jensen Walker’s ability to find humour in situations I would want to break down and weep.
If you are over 50 there is plenty in this short book that will have you nodding along and chuckling to yourself.

Hot flushes, night sweats, age spots, arm flaps, bifocals, brain fade, chin hair, crows feet, double chin, nothing escapes Walker’s witty sense of humour.

The book closes with a list of 60 things to rejoice and live by, no matter your age. Read the list or make your own. show more Keep it close as a reminder each day to be good to yourself and relax and learn to be comfortable in your middle-age skin; saggy as it may be. show less

Faith, Hope, and a Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker is the charming first installment in in A Faith Chapel Mystery series. We are transported to Apple Springs, California where Hope Taylor is the new associate pastor at Faith Chapel Episcopal Church. Discovering a murdered parishioner and being found holding the murder weapon while standing over the victim is not the best first impression. With parishioners looking at her askance and not wanting Hope’s services, she has no choice but to prove show more her innocence. I enjoyed reading this charming new cozy mystery. Hope Taylor is an entertaining protagonist. Her movie references are delightful, and I liked her quirky sense of humor. She has an adorable dog named Bogie which adds humor to the story. I liked that Hope is a woman starting over after enduring tragedy. She has such a good outlook on life. I thought the story was well-written with steady pacing. There are a variety of secondary characters that enhance the story. We get to know some of the attendees of the church. I liked the tea the group put on that had a Downton Abbey flair. The author’s word imagery allowed me to visualize the town with its shops, homes, and townspeople. The mystery was a fun one to solve. There are several good suspects, a red herring, and well-placed clues. It was fun watching Hope play a mature Trixie Belden. The author did a great job with the mystery. Faith, Hope, and a Corpse is a sweet story that has friendship, secrets, hope, lies, humor, and murder. I am looking forward to the next A Faith Chapel Mystery. Faith, Hope, and a Corpse is a pleasing cozy mystery with big dog named Bogie, an offensive victim, shocking secrets, tea party planning, a spirited sister-in-law, and a positive pastor. show less

Hope is beginning a new chapter in her life. A 42-year-old widow, she is now an Episcopal priest in a small town in California. And it is a rough beginning when she stumbles across a dead body on the church grounds on her first day at work. Now, she is not only determined to convince the old timers to accept their first female priest, she has to convince them she is not a murderer. This book, first in the series, was a delight from the first page to the last. The characters are well show more developed and likable, and the plot is fast moving. There is much humor sprinkled in, as well as references to old time movies. The solution to the murder will keep you guessing and engrossed in the story. There are secondary mysteries and problems to solve along the way, just to add some spice to the story. It’s a very well-written tale, and a great start to the series. Hope is a wonderful character, and I can’t wait to see where her path as a somewhat nonconventional priest takes her in future books. show less

I may be a bit biased, having been born and raised in Wisconsin, but Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker is a fantastic start to A Bookish Baker Cozy Mystery series!

I think everyone will enjoy the book, but those from the Midwest will find all the local nods super fun. Yous Guys (not you guys, yous… yes, that’s how some folks around here talk), Kringles (a delicious Danish pastry with lots of flakey layers), Pabst Beer (the first beer I drank and probably the reason I don’t drink show more beer… you either love Pabst or hate it), and Walker even ended the book with a nod to Accordions and Polka Music… you really can’t get more Wisconsin than that.

There were so many great characters too. I often find myself liking the sleuth’s friends or sidekick better than the protagonist, but Teddie is awesome. I love her sense of humor and that she is very forthcoming about her double mastectomy. And the way Teddie is with her American Eskimo, Gracie-girl is adorable, and so true to how people are with their fur babies. I had never heard pee-mail before, when a dog is checking out what other dogs have been in their territory, but loved the image… if we had a dog instead of three cats, that’s what I would say, “Are you ready for pee-mail time?!?”

And Teddie’s friends and love interest are wonderful too. First, I just love the love interest’s name, Tavish, and he really does seem lovely. ;) He brings her flowers, helps out when he can, and loves dogs too… as a bonus he’s a writer too and rich. Yes, please!
Sharon and Char really do act like people who you’ve been friends with forever, they don’t put up with any of Teddie’s bull and push her towards a relationship. I was a bit concerned with Teddie’s mom at first, I’m so over mom’s being horrible to their daughters in cozies, but by the end of the book, Claire is a more enjoyable character.

As for the mystery there were plenty of suspects and some red herrings. I did know who the killer was early on, but that’s just because I read a lot of mysteries, and it was more of a gut feeling.

Already looking forward to book two in the series, Deadly Delights, coming out later in 2021, and I’m excited to read Walker’s other new cozy mystery series coming out January 2021, with the first book being called Hope, Faith & A Corpse. show less