Murder at Icicle Lodge is the third of the Ferrara Family Mystery series but the first that I read of the series. However, the author does a good job of giving background information on the characters and they are a diverse group of friends. Alberta, her sister Helen, sister-in-law Joyce, and granddaughter Jinx are going on a fun vacation. Jinx works for a local newspaper and is assigned to cover the grand reopening of a nice mountain lodge, Icicle Lodge, in Pennsylvania ski country. An Olympic gold medal ice skater is the main attraction so everyone is excited for the time away from their home town of Tranquility, New Jersey. To make things really nice, their friends and boyfriends are going as well. Police chief Vinny was friends with the deceased husband of the lodge owner, Cathy, and was invited and given two rooms so he invited Alberta's boyfriend Sloan, Jinx's boyfriend Freddy, and friend, Father Sal. The star, Pamela, is a real high maintenance self important person, who makes life hard on everyone but then is found dead on the ice rink outside the lodge. With an snow storm in the area, police can't make it to the lodge to investigate and Vinny is put in charge. Alberta and the ladies put on their sleuthing hats to help Vinny but things start to get really complicated quickly. It has to be someone on the staff of the lodge or Pamela's assistant. The ladies and guys have a lot of figure out. Full of humor and twists and turns, this is a great mystery to unravel.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Before you start reading Murder at Icicle Lodge, brew up your favorite hot beverage and find a comfy place to curl up. Time to join Alberta, her granddaughter Jinx, sister Helen and her sister-in-law Joyce in another investigation. Together these awesome ladies, ranging in age from 65 down to GenX, are the Ferrara Family Detective Agency. They are quite a team. In this, the third murder they investigate, Jinx, a young newspaper reporter, has a plum job - a week at the Icicle Lodge. She asks Alberta, Helen and Joyce to join her. What better way to relax - by a cozy fire, a hot toddy in hand, good company and glorious scenery in the form of a winter wonderland? Sounds good and off they go....not knowing they will soon stumble upon a dead body on ice, face a blizzard that leaves them cut off from help from the police and a killer in their midst. A truly classic locked room mystery and the ladies are on the case.
These are wonderfully drawn characters and I would love to spend time with them or to be a part of their family. There is love and respect, lots of laughter and, most of all, family. The humor is laugh out loud funny. As for the mystery, it's very well crafted with twists, turns and red herrings I expect from any well written mystery. This delightful series has it all. May it have a long run.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC if this book. I had a wonderful time while reading, the characters were so much fun. Some even reminded me of family members and friends (they are admittedly Italian). I felt right at home with the dynamics between Alberta, Helen and Joyce. They were my favorite, and I will keep on reading this series. The story was interesting and well written, even though I am not a fan of figure skating. It was not very easy to identify the killer, considering the fact that Pamela (the murder victim) is incredibly unpleasant, and almost anyone could gave been the culprit. I highly recommend this book if you like mysteries and fun/crazy (in a good way) families and characters.

As a reader of cozy mysteries I was intrigued to read this book. The Italian-American culture and family vibe come through strongly and the story centres around more mature characters.
The investigation of the crime is well written but I’d say this is a slightly more niche cozy mystery, and would perhaps be more popular with a more mature audience but it can be enjoyed by anyone who reads the cozy mystery genre.
My main takeaways were strong characters and sense of story identity.

This is the 3rd in the Ferrara Family Mystery series. In this installment the ladies are headed for a vacation due to the fact that Jinx (Alberta's grandaughter) has landed a reporting job at the grand opening of an Icicle Lodge that will feature an olympic gold medalist returning to the ice rink. Jinx is given two rooms so her Grandmother Alberta and two Aunts (Helen and Joyce). Turns out their guys also had the same idea so no longer just a girls trip. They all soon realize that Pamerla Gregory the former olympian and America's sweetheart is anything but. The gold medalist is found murdered on the ice rink just as they are all stranded at the lodge due to an impending storm. Good solid mystery as there were lots of possible suspects and the locked lodge so you know the murderer is someone among your close quarters is a good plot twist as well. Good solid cozy and such a fun loving family. The characters are what makes a good cozy and these are great. Highly recommend.

Cozy Mysteries are a subgenre of crime fiction which is a little lighter on things like sex and violence. They usually involve small town crime solvers who may or may not be amateurs. Each cozy series often has a theme that can be anything from coffee to cooking, to magic or even talking pets. The possibilities are endless.

In the past I have reviewed and offered many giveaways for Berkley Prime Crime titles but not many from other publishers. I know that you as my readers have been very interested in cozy mysteries and I want to provide you with a bigger range of cozy books to explore.

Kensington Publishing offers a huge selection of cozies every month and I’ve decided to do a post at the beginning of each month to spotlight their titles for the upcoming month and another to feature the new books from Berkley as well.

Enjoy!

Kensington has ten new titles for November. Their books come out at the end of the month, so these will be available by 11/26/2019. Preorder is available on select titles and Amazon links will be provided. There will also be a link to the goodreads page for each book and a short summary.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44283547-cobblered-to-death?from_search=true

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Courtney Archer Book 1

Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .

Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes . . .

During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . .

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Daisy’s Tea Garden Book 4

In Pennsylvania's Amish country, Daisy Swanson has a tea shop to run, a daughter to marry off--and a murder to solve . . .

Daisy's worried one of her employees at Daisy's Tea Garden may be in a spot of trouble. Lately Karina's been loading up on soup and second-day baked goods at the end of her shift--and while the shop's scrumptious treats may be hard to resist, Daisy suspects there's more going on, especially since Karina has been seen hanging out in a rundown part of Willow Creek.

Planning her own daughter's wedding is enough to keep her busy, but Daisy can't help feeling a protective maternal instinct--and an instinct to investigate. It turns out Karina has been helping a down-on-his luck single dad who's been making ends meet--barely--by selling antiques at a place called Pirated Treasures.

But when an employee at the antiques store is bludgeoned to death with a marble rolling pin, Karina's new friend is suspect number one. Though the motives are muddy and steeped in intrigue, Daisy is more than determined to flush the real killer out.

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Lucy Stone Book 26

With family tensions intensifying in Tinker’s Cove, part-time reporter Lucy Stone could really use some time off the grid. But after she RSVPs to an unconventional celebration on remote Holiday Island, Lucy realizes that disconnecting from reality comes at a deadly price . . .

Lucy doesn’t know what to expect as she arrives on a private Maine island owned by eccentric billionaire Scott Newman, only that the exclusive experience should make for a very intriguing feature story. An avid environmentalist, Scott has stripped the isolated property of modern conveniences in favor of an extreme eco-friendly lifestyle. A trip to Holiday Island is like traveling back to the nineteenth Century, and it turns out other residents aren’t exactly enthusiastic about living without cell service and electricity . . .

Before Lucy can get the full scoop on Scott, she is horrified to find one of his daughters dead at the bottom of a seaside cliff. The young woman’s tragic end gets pinned as an accident, but a sinister plot unfolds when there’s a sudden disappearance . . .

Stuck on a clammy island with murder suspects aplenty, the simple life isn’t so idyllic after all. Now, Lucy must tap into the limited resources around her to outwit a cold-blooded killer—before it’s lights out for her next!

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Lady and Lady’s Maid Book4

Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva Huntford, are preparing for a wedding, but it may not be the happy occasion everyone hopes for . . .

Since the Great War, some family fortunes have suffered, including those of the Renshaws. Despite being the granddaughter of an earl, Julia Renshaw is under pressure to marry for money—and has settled for Gilbert Townsend, a viscount and a wealthy industrialist. He is decades older than Julia, and it’s clear to her sister Phoebe—and to Eva, who has been like a surrogate mother to the girls—that this is not a love match. Nevertheless, the wedding takes place—and in a hurry.

At the reception aboard the groom’s yacht, there appears to be tension between Gil and several guests: his best man, a fellow veteran of the Boer War; his grouchy spinster sister; and his current heir, a nervous young cousin named Ernest. The bride is also less than pleased when she discovers that her honeymoon will be more crowded than expected—with Gil’s pretty secretary, among others, coming along.

That very night, Julia pounds on her sister’s door, brandishing a bandaged hand and reporting a hot-tempered outburst on her new husband’s part. Julia is feeling doubt and regret about her hasty decision, but returns to the boat. Then the next morning, before the yacht can depart the harbor, Gil’s body is found in the water below—and Phoebe and Eva must discover who pushed him over . . . before the Renshaws’ social standing is irreparably stained by Julia’s arrest for his murder . . .

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Desert Flowers Book 1

Lee Hollis begins a delightful new series in which Poppy Harmon and her friends find that life after retirement can be much busier--and deadlier--than any of them ever anticipated . . .

When Poppy goes from complacent retiree to penniless widow in a matter of weeks, the idea of spending her golden years as the biggest charity case in Palm Springs renders her speechless. With no real skills and nothing left to lose, Poppy uses her obsession with true crime shows to start a career as a private eye . . .

But after opening the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with help from her two best friends, Violet and Iris, Poppy realizes that age brings wisdom, not business--until she convinces her daughter's handsome boyfriend, Matt, to pose as the face of the agency. It's not long before Matt's irresistible act snags a client desperate to retrieve priceless jewelry burglarized from an aging actress at the Palm Leaf Retirement Village. Or before Poppy stumbles upon the bloodied body of the victim's arch rival . . .

In a flash, Poppy's innocent detective gig is upstaged by a dangerous murder investigation riddled with slimy suspects and unspeakable scandal. As she and her team uncover the truth, Poppy must confront the secrets about her late husband's past and swiftly catch a killer lurking around the retirement community--even if it means turning her world upside down all over again.

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Ferrara Family Mystery Book 3

Seasoned Italian-American Alberta Scaglione can whip up a traditional dish for any occasion. But when an impromptu vacation turns deadly, can she sift out the deadly ingredient?

When her granddaughter lands a reporting gig at the grand opening of the luxurious Icicle Lodge, Alberta and friends tag along for a week of much-needed R&R amid the snowcapped hills of northeastern Pennsylvania. But the idyllic winter getaway becomes a nightmare after the gang discovers blood on the ice—and the dead body of celebrity guest Pamela Gregory, a frosty Olympic gold medal figure skater who won herself more enemies than fans . . .

With a killer on the loose, multiple suspects, and a blizzard on the way, Alberta must now race to crack a bone-chilling case . . . before the outspoken Ferrara ladies get served murder: family style!

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Literary Pub Mystery Book 2

In this intoxicating mystery by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox, a winter carnival becomes a recipe for disaster when a Shady Creek celebrity gets iced.

The Winter Carnival always brings holiday cheer, Christmas joy—and tourists with cash—to picturesque Shady Creek, Vermont. At the center of the glittering decorations and twinkling lights is booklover and pub owner Sadie Coleman, creating original cocktails, hosting a literary trivia evening, and cheering on her loyal employee Melanie “Mel” Costas as she competes in the ice carving competition.

But holiday cheer can’t compete with former resident and renowned chef Freddy Mancini, who arrives with his nose in the air, showing off his ice-sculpting skills like a modern-day Michelangelo. During the artists’ break in the night-long contest, Mel’s tools disappear . . . and Freddy is found dead with her missing pick in his chest.

Although the police turn their attention to Mel, it seems everyone in town had a grudge against Freddy, including his assistant, his mentor, his former flame, and even his half-brother.

Faster than she can fling a Huckleberry Gin, Sadie finds herself racing to make sure the police don’t arrest the wrong suspect—all while sharing a flirtation with local brewery owner Grayson Blake. Their chemistry leads to a heated rivalry at the hockey rink—and to the hot pursuit of a killer.

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Mystery Bookshop Book 5
Amateur sleuth Samantha Washington’s shopping trip to Chicago takes a deadly detour when a man is murdered on her bus . . .

After some post-Christmas retail therapy in the Windy City, mystery bookshop owner and historical whodunit novelist Sam Washington is returning home to North Harbor, Michigan, on a chartered bus. With Nana Jo and her gal pals Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae from Shady Acres Retirement Village along for the ride, it's a lively trip. But one passenger is not so lively—a gentleman Irma befriended is found dead in his seat after an unscheduled stop. The ladies immediately shift gears to find out who punched his ticket, while Sam slips into the driver's seat to make sure Nana Jo and her crew steer clear of fatal conclusions . . .

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Eleanor Wilde Mystery Book 2

It may have been a ghost that led Eleanor Wilde to set up shop in a quaint English village. But now that she’s established herself as the town witch, Ellie’s contentedly casting spells on anyone desperate enough—or gullible enough—to request her mysterious potions…

Selling mystical elixirs and tantalizing tonics is a pretty good way for a fake medium to earn a living. Or at least it’s Ellie’s main source of income—until a villager turns up dead. The cause? Murder by poisoning. And though Ellie’s concoctions don’t include anything worthy of a skull and crossbones, suddenly she’s the prime suspect. Her only recourse is to find the culprit who did do away with Sarah Blackthorne. No one liked the mean old battle-axe. But did anyone hate her enough to kill her?

It’s enough of a mystery to make Ellie hang up her witch’s hat and take millionaire beau Nicholas Hartford up on his offer to keep her afloat. Except Ellie is not the kind of woman to lean on a man—least of all a man she adores but whose place in her life is uncertain. Besides, Ellie’s taken on two young witches-in-training—apprentices if you will—and both of them are convinced a werewolf is the murderer.

Just as Ellie’s wondering if there really is something otherworldly going on, animals suddenly begin to disappear—including her beloved cat, Beast. Now Ellie’s on the warpath to uncover the wicked truth about the people and the place she’s only just begun to call home…

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When Jinx lands a reporting gig at the grand opening of a luxury lodge, she immediately invites her grandmother Alberta and her two aunts to come along with her for a week of rest and relaxation. But the perfect winter vacation becomes a nightmare after they discover celebrity guest Pamela Gregory murdered on the ice skating rink. To make matters worse, a blizzard leaves everyone trapped at the lodge. With no help arriving anytime soon, the Ferrara women decide to do their own investigation before the killer strikes again. Murder at Icicle Lodge is a well-written, entertaining cozy mystery with engaging, quirky characters, a cozy winter setting, and a suspenseful murder mystery. The author provides plenty of red herrings to throw the reader off the scent. It kept me turning the pages and the shocking reveal at the end left my head spinning. If you like cozies set in winter, then this is the perfect read for you. It will make you want to curl up by the fire with a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa. I will be reading future books in this series and can't wait to solve more mysteries with the Ferrara women. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jinx, Alberta, Helen and Joyce are back at it again in Murder at Icicle Lodge.
When Jinx lands a gig to report on the opening day of the new lodge, she had no idea that a simple vacation would turn deadly.
Inviting her grandmother and family members seemed like a perfect idea, until hidden secrets, deception and revenge become the star of the grand opening.
The ladies work together to bring the truth forward and return home safely.

This was a fun cozy with interesting characters and recipes! Murder in a ritzy environment is always entertaining and this story especially so. This was a really quick read and and I hope this author writes more in this series. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

This is the first time I have read this author and I really loved it. It was a page turner just to see what was going to happen next . Alberta, Helen and Joyce are the are amateur sleuths and boy are they good. Alberta is the strongest character I feel.. This is about getting Icicle Lodge reopened and they have an Olympic Ice skater coming to perform a must read . See how it all ties together and what happens. GREAT READ.

Murder at Icicle Lodge, J D Grifo
I give this a three stars, first the plot is fabulous, second the characters are great Helen (ex-nun), Joyce, (sister-in-law), Jinx (Alberta's granddaughter), and A!berta (main character) all considered themselves Italian -American family. The third reason for three stars the plot is center in the world of ice skating. Give this book a chance and give it a read.

PS - There is a sub-plot that not revealed until later in the story. Open minded will be need.

I received this advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher for my objectives and unbiased opinion.

Fans of this series will be thrilled with this latest offering.
I recommend you read the previous books in the series before reading this one.
This was a satisfying cozy with humor.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book. The characters have grown on me as I've read more books. The mystery was good and kept me guessing. I like the seeing the relationships develop between the main characters. I also like the "locked" room setting of the lodge.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. - I look forward to more in the series.

A laugh out loud romp with a big Italian family, full of twist and turns, much like the featured figure skater. Looking forward to more outings with this fantastic group.

I laughed so hard reading this book. You have to love this big Italian family. The ex nun, the widow, sister in law, and grand daughter. Don't forget, the cop, priest, widows boyfriend, and grand daughters boyfriend. The inside look of a prima Donna, figure skater. The twists and turns of a murder plot. These all make a funny book.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. This is not the first book in this series but easily read as a stand-alone. Alberta, a widowed 65 years young, receives an unexpected surprise when her granddaughter, Jinx, invites Alberta, Helen, and Joyce (aka the unofficial Ferrara Family Detective Agency) to the Icicle Lodge’s grand opening in the PA mountains. Jinx is covering the opening for the local paper because the celebrity star comes from the area. Pamela, the celebrity star, is an Olympic gold winning figure skater. When a blizzard hits, the ladies, the four men who accompanied them (Police Chief Vinny, Jinx’s boyfriend, Freddy, Alberta’s friend, Sloan, and Father Sal) are marooned with the small staff and a dead body! It’s an ingenious murder and the suspects are everyone but the eight people who came for the opening. The story moves well and the author clearly depicts the characters so its easy to keep them clear. This is a good cosy to read by a fire with a cup of tea or hot chocolate!

The Ferrara ladies are going on vacation, thanks to Jinx. Invited to a new lodge that is opening and featuring a famous olympic gold medal ice skater making her return to the rink, Jinx was given two rooms to attend the opening festivities and interview the former olympian. To make it into a girls’ trip, Jinx brings Alberta, Helen and Joyce with her. To Alberta’s surprise, their local Police chief was also going to surprise the ladies with two rooms to the event as well. Instead, the ladies are their guys head to the lodge together.

While Vinny is enamored with Pamela, the ex olympian figure skater, the woman’s true colors begin to show and it is clear she is not America’s sweetheart. When the woman is found murdered on the ice skating rink and a blizzard hits, Vinny goes missing and everyone is trapped at the resort with the murderer.

Lots of secrets, lies and suspects even with a small group of thirteen at the resort. But will the Ferrara ladies be able to figure it out and find Vinny before one of them becomes the next victim.

This is a fantastic and fun series that has burst onto the scene and taken a firm hold in the cozy world. Young or old, man or woman, you will find that you relate to one of the characters in the series. Looking forward to many more outings with the Ferrara ladies.