Max Parrott

Angela Atkinson lives in Hummings Hollow, Virginia, with her border collie, Ruff McPaw, and a mix of farm animals. Working as a barista at the coffee shop, Angela was worried the day that Randy Miller, a retired carpenter put an ad on the bulletin board offering his truck for sale, not realizing that was the last time she’d see him alive. Angela was determined to help solve his murder following investigative steps her father had begun to teach her when she was a young girl.

I loved the show more setting of a small town with a lake and the characters that look out for one another. My favorite character was Angela’s fur-end and sleuthing partner, Ruff, especially after he said to himself,

"Guess I’ll have to take matters into my own paws."

Ruff helps with the animals on the farm, is a friend to everyone at the coffee shop, and is a soothing comfort to Angela’s mother, who has dementia, and to Randy’s widow. Meeting Megan, Angela’s niece determined to find a romantic match for her aunt, was also fun.

I’m looking forward to more cozy mystery fun with Angela and Ruff! show less

Winter Murderland is a cute cozy mystery, perfect if you're looking for a winter read with a compelling mystery.

Jasmine, the main character, and her talking dog companion Luffy make an effective mystery-solving team. I especially liked how Luffy was integrated into the story. He wasn't a cheesy sidekick (as is sometimes the case in cozy mysteries with animal companions), but rather, a distinct character of his own.

I also liked the way in which Jasmine was investigating the case. There was a show more clear reason as to why she was investigating and she shares her thoughts about the case with the reader. It helped me to better keep track of the mystery. It also helped me get a better understanding of how she approached the case, which is especially important because this is a complex mystery, featuring lots of suspects with good motives.

I'm the kind of reader who likes jumping around in series; I don't usually read a series in order. The only thing I had a little trouble following was the fact that Jasmine sometimes has visions of the future, but otherwise, I think readers like me would easily be able to follow along with the story.

This is a clean cozy mystery with no foul language, no romance, and little violence.

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