Book Review: MELODIES OF MALICE (Fiona Quinn Mysteries) by C. S. McDonald

About the Book:

When Fiona’s teenage cousin, Madison, finds the new Maestra for the Pittsburgh Junior Symphonic Orchestra dead, a web of espionage unravels! 

Fiona’s husband, Detective Landry, seeks out his mother’s international security firm, Global Shield, to assist with the investigation. They soon discover the Maestra was a Russian spy. Furthermore, an operative from Russia has been dispatched to the US to kill former female spies in order to protect delicate secrets. 

While the possibility that Madison’s life is in danger, Detective Landry places her under protective custody—in his and Fiona’s home. Global Shield operative, Ivan Guseva, stays with Fiona and takes up residence in the attic apartment where her ghostly grandma, Evelyn, lives. 

Much to Fiona’s dismay, he’s enjoying every moment, and it appears Grandma Ev is too! Meanwhile, Madison is proving to be quite the master of teenage shenanigans. 

Fiona’s about to move this investigation up an octave by pulling out her amateur sleuthing skills to track down a Russian operative, send her house guests packing, and bring her home back to normal—whatever that is. 

Review:

Once again, McDonald provides a cozy mytery worth reading. Fiona is still Fiona and wanting answers. Landry's protecting her as best he can and other family members do their part. The book is well-written and flows easily. There are surprises and twists to maintain interest. The characters are well-developed with enough back story sprinkled to allow this book to be read as a stand-alone. Highly recommend to those who enjoy the cozy mystery genre.

AMAZON

About the Author:

C.S. McDonald taught dance and choreographed shows for twenty-six years. Nowadays, she resides with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister, on their Thoroughbred farm, Fly-by-Night Stables, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. George the Pony is a real pony who lives among the tall Thoroughbreds on their farm. 

In 2016, Ms. McDonald decided to write a cozy mystery series. The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are quick clean reads for anyone 10 to 110! You'll love Fiona and the quirky, but oh so charming, Detective Landry. 

Fiona is a kindergarten teacher and an unlikely sleuth from Pittsburgh. If you've never been to Pittsburgh, welcome to this wonderful city! If you live in Pittsburgh, you're sure to recognize many of the venues featured in the books. Ms. McDonald has even sprinkled a little Pittsburghese into her stories just for fun. Yinz will love it! 

Hey! Don't miss C.S. McDonald's new addition to Fiona Quinn Mysteries--Fiona Quinn QUICK Mysteries! What's that? Short Stories (about 30/40 pages) for a quick bedtime read or if you're stuck with a long wait in a doctor's office (we've all been there). Four shorts in all. Check them out! 

Okay, now for something seriously exciting--C.S. McDonald has penned a second cozy mystery series, The Owl's Nest Mysteries--Meet Alexa Owl. She's returned home to Pittsburgh to start a new business, the Owl's Nest Couturier Shop. Much to her surprise, she's getting more than she ever bargained for: Detective Bobby Starr, and he's no ordinary sleuth. Bobby is an angel who's returned to Earth in hopes of earning his way into the Guardian Angel Squad. Only here's the catch: he's got to solve three murders he failed to solve when he was alive, and he needs Alexa's help! This series has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lotta cozy! 

By the way, all of the Fiona Quinn Mysteries, short stories, and the OWL'S NEST MYSTERIES are now available on Audible--narrated by the incredibly talented, Maren Swenson Waxenberg!  

Hey! You can check out all the books, listen to excerpts from the audiobooks and more at C.S. McDonald's website.  

You can also connect her on: 

Facebook ~ Twitter/X ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ BookBub

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Book Review: FROM MANGIA TO MURDER (A Sophia Mancini - Little Italy Mystery Book 1) by Caroline Mickelson

About the Book 

Little Italy, 1946 

Sophia Mancini would have enjoyed the grand opening celebration of her family’s private detective agency if the volatile chef at Vincenzo’s Ristorante had actually survived the meal. But before Sophia’s chilled spoon hit the spumoni, someone plunged a knife into Vincenzo’s back and the word on everyone’s lips went from mangia to murder. 

Sophia soon finds herself trailing crime boss Frankie Vidoni, chatting with his mouthy mistress Maria, and dodging henchman Mooch DiMuccio. She’s suspicious of Vincenzo’s widow, Stella, and his assistant chef, Eugene, because they don’t appear the least bit dismayed by Vincenzo’s passing. 

There is no conversation Sophia won’t eavesdrop on, no question she won’t ask, and no danger she won’t face to find the killer. 

Review 

Post-war, Sophia's not only dealing with her father's attitudes about a woman's place, but she needed to come up with a business plan to help her brother, an injured vet, maintain custody of his son. Maybe a murder wasn't the place to start, but when Vincenzo is killed, the detective agency she and her brother just opened has its first case. And the crime boss hired them to solve the murder. Her brother is rehabbing and the nephew is cheering Sophia on, as her father berates her for working.

Sophia is spunky, assertive, and a force to be reckoned with. She loves her brother and nephew and is determined to make the agency work. Mooch's character develops slowly, but he's a keeper. Then there's the crime boss, his girl friend, Eugene, and Stella to consider. The plot has the requisite twists and turns, and moves at a steady pace. It was a fun read with the detective showing up at odd times, sometimes cold, and sometimes? There may be a romance in the offing. Definitely a cozy historical mystery worth curling up with.

AMAZON

AUTHOR WEBSITE