Michelle Kelly

Interesting British cozy that is a lot darker than most of the American cozies I've read. Usually in the American cozies I've read the small town the book is set is is very idealized with mostly very sweet characters especially those that the protagonist, in this book Keeley at best seems to be ignored by her townsfolk if not downright reviled by them.


I'm going to read the second book in the series, now wondering if things will be different then this introductory book.… (altro)

Unfortunately the series didn't get any better in fact I liked this book less then book 1. The characters are all so unlikable, side characters Megan and Jack are the only characters I care to have a conversation with. Keeley and Ben are both so self absorbed, I'm sure they'll break up each book if this series continues, if it does it'll do so without me. It seems the way Keeley solves a mystery is to annoy everyone around her until the killer finally decides to take her out.

Being interested in yoga and a 20 year vegetarian, I had high hopes for this series too bad it didn't live up to expectations. There's another yoga mystery series by Laura Weber I hope that might be a better fit for me.… (altro)

The most noticeable element of this formulaic mystery is a town full of obnoxious and thoroughly unlikeable characters; it really is a shame that more of the aggravating Belfrey residents and visitors did not get marked for death. As the book went along, the continued presence of Darla (narcissistic, verbally abusive mother), Megan (manipulative & smelly New Age shop owner), Raquel (village slut & hostile rival café owner), Ben (patronizing boyfriend), etc. became increasingly annoying and—quite frankly—intolerable.

The book also features an easily solvable mystery (the murderer is glaringly obvious the moment the character is first introduced),and an implausible plotline…what woman in her right mind is going to go out of her way to help someone who is vicious and persistently tries to sabotage her & her fledgling business? The answer, of course, is no one; that’s what really renders this book a full blown dud.

A veritable truckload of abhorrent characters, a painfully obvious murderer, and an amateur detective who spends all of her time serving as a hapless victim to the bullies surrounding her are the essential elements that make this a very tiresome read.

Unless you are an absolute glutton for punishment, avoid this one.… (altro)

Keeley Carpenter has a lot on her plate at the Yoga Café in Belfrey, England. The mayor of the village has been murdered, her difficult mother has just arrived in the village, and her boyfriend, local detective Ben Taylor, suspects the mayor's girlfriend and Keeley's nemesis, Raquel, of the murder. Keeley isn't so sure about that. While she doesn't care for Raquel, she can't actually see her as the murderer. Meanwhile, Ben is determined to stop Keeley from investigation on her own, but Keeley just can't stop what comes naturally - - until there's another death. Balance at the Yoga Café is soon shattered, and it might take more than a few yoga poses to help Keeley find the murderer.

This charming, cozy mystery has it all: eccentric characters, a likable heroine, and enough twists and turns to keep mystery readers turning page after page. The inclusion of the cafe's recipes and a few yoga poses just adds to the fun.

This review was written by me and originally published by City Book Review

More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.blogspot.com… (altro)