I adore this series, and this book was a blast. I loved getting to know the characters even more. The setting was fun, and I loved the mystery. I will definitely be continuing with the series.

Delta and her friend Hazel own a stationary shop and are hired to provide a crafting tent at a local celebrities birthday party.

Unfortunately, the birthday girl Lena's sister in law is murdered, is it a case of mistaken identity? Lena has plenty of enemies so there are plenty of suspects. Delta decides to investigate. It would be nice to learn more about the stationary shop and Hazel in the next book in the series. 

An enjoyable cosy mystery.

3.5 stars

Personally, I was disappointed in the second book of the Stationary Shop mystery series. It didn't hold my attention. The best part was when Delta's grandmother came for a visit.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

I love the premise of this book - two friends Delta and Hazel open a stationery store.  They are tasked with hosting a 3D cardmaking booth at a high society party.  When the host's sister-in-law is found dead, Delta sets out to investigate.  I would love to see the investigations be more about Delta AND Hazel.  Instead I find Hazel to be the most understanding person in the world.  Delta is not a fan of actually doing any work.  She is always off on her own while Hazel is the one to keep the business going.  I do enjoy the setting and the mystery so I am not ready to give up on the series just yet.

This was a quick, fun, light read. I enjoyed it. I liked the characters and would recommend it to others.

A good cozy mystery, engrossing and entertaining.
I liked the well written plot, the likable and fleshed out cast of characters and the lovely setting.
The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.
It's the second in a series but it can be read as a stand alone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is part of the Stationery Shop series but I think you can come into this book as a stand alone. 

Delta Douglas has achieved her dream of owing a paper goods shop in a small town and is very happy with her work. Being offered a workshop at a socialite's birthday party did not really fit in with the celebrities and people who were the invitees but Delta and her partner Hazel were very happy to be invited. They did not expect the birthday girl to be threatened and for the police to arrive and a murder to take place when the police were actually present on the premises!

In a typical cosy mystery style, the story develops from there with missing items from a museum, missing husbands and daughters set amidst the gossipy ladies of a small town who seem to know everyone's business before they know it themselves. No secrets can be kept in this town.

This was a light hearted mystery murder read, which was ideal reading material in the present pandemic.

FOR LETTER OR WORSE is the second instalment in Vivian Conroy’s Stationery Shop Mystery Series. I’ve already read the first book, LAST PEN STANDING, and found it an absolute delight — a young and fresh cozy mystery — so I was excited to get to this new adventure.

FOR LETTER OR WORSE is a solid cozy instalment and a perfectly good mystery, but it lacked some of the magic of LAST PEN STANDING. It’s still very good — well written and well plotted a- and I think if I hadn’t loved the first one so much I might have rated this higher? Perhaps my expectations go ahead of me?

For me, the heart of this series, the originality of it in a sea of sometimes too similar cozies boils down to a couple of things. The first book had them in spades, while FOR LETTER OR WORSE choses other things to focus on, which just weren’t as intriguing.

Mainly, this was the stationary shop co-run by our protagonists: Wanted. I loved reading about all of the different products and designs in the first book. I loved the way that the stationary became a big part of Delta’s process for organising her sleuthing. This wasn’t as big a part of this book and it felt like the shop was side-lined for Delta’s detective work.

Tundish, the little ex-mining town that’s really leant into that theme is another unique selling point. The museum is mentioned, and we see a couple of new locations, but I really wanted more of the outlaw-inspired town. In the same vein, the Paper Posse of the last book makes only brief appearances. While we’re getting to know Delta, Hazel and Jonas, the Paper Posse still feel very two-dimensional, and I wonder if more time could have been spent letting them get involved in the investigation.

There’s a lot of good things about FOR LETTER OR WORSE too, of course. Conroy’s writing style is great and the mystery itself kept me guessing. There are a couple of new additions to the cast I’m keen to see more of.

While I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first it’s still well worth a read, especially for mystery fans looking for something a little different from bakers and bookshops. I’m hoping that this might be second-book-syndrome, and the third book will win me right over again. Because, I definitely still want to read more about Delta, Wanted and Tundish.

The second installment in a relatively new series. Much like the first, it is a slow start but once it starts to pick up, the reader is in for a treat. Chaos, murder, and everything in between make this a story you will not want to put down once it gets going.

Delta is at the birthday party of a famous former model going through a widely-publicized divorce. Lena Laroy is rich and beautiful, but it seems that someone may want her dead. When a woman who wore a similar dress to Lana's is found dead at the party, police think Lana was the intended target. Could it be her ex-husband, who probably wants more money before the divorce? Or the weird new dog walker who seems to know nothing about dogs and is getting cozy with Lena's brother?

Delta and the Paper Posse of scrapbooking ladies decide to look into the case when the police make an arrest they don't think is correct. It doesn't hurt that Delta's crush is also looking into the case, but she's not sure about his feelings toward her.

I enjoyed Delta's grandmother's appearance in town and look forward to where that storyline goes in future installments. And though I did like this cozy mystery, I didn't like it as much as the first in the series (called "Last Pen Standing"). My issue with both novels is basically the same - I love the idea of a stationary store and I wish more of the plot took place in the store. This story took place almost entirely at a local mansion. The last book took place mostly in a local hotel.

Interesting and different setting and occupation. The notebooks and such sound dreamy. Good mystery. Kept me guessing till the end.

Delta Douglas is part owner of a stationary store with her friend, Hazel. Named Wanted, it has a large local following, especially by the Paper Posse Ladies. Paper crafts are their thing with a side of crime investigation as they help Delta and Hazel track down a killer.
What should have been a fun event - a 3D craft themed birthday event for a local celeb - Lena Laroy - turns out to be anything but fun. During the party a threatening note is discovered followed by the very dead body of Lena's sister-in-law. Not new at sleuthing, Delta, along with Hazel, Jonas and the Paper Posse Ladies start their investigation and the list of suspects gives them a lot to work with. Full of twists, turns and red herrings, this is a well crafted mystery that kept me engaged to the last page.
I will definitely be adding the next in the series to my TBR list.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed another book trip to Tundish, Montana and the unique stationery store called Wanted that Delta and her bestie Hazel ran. I loved how the older ladies aka the Paper Posse (business owners in town and customers of Delta's) were very in tune to tech and always started a message chain on their phones when there was a new murder. I could totally feel for Delta and Hazel when no one showed up at the celebrity birthday party to their tent to make cards. I've been at craft shows where I've sold nothing, sort of the same thing, except Delta and Hazel got paid to be there no matter if anyone did cards with them or not.

Jonas and Delta seemed to be growing just a tad closer. And they made great sleuthing partners once more. The free-spirited poodles that the celebrity woman Lena owned actually came in handy when they helped with a big clue in the case. There was an interesting twist at the end, and although I'd sort of seen it coming, I hadn't guessed the killer. I liked how they went about catching the person. Everything was wrapped up well at the end. Gran had come to visit, and I hope given her current circumstances that she'll put down roots and stay in Tundish, at least for a while. I loved Jonas's dog Spud in the first book, but he wasn't around very much at least not in a major way.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

We’re back in the small, ex-mining town of Tundish, where Delta Douglas moved at the start of Last Pen Standing to follow her dream of running a craft store and designing her own stationary. It’s a sleepy kind of place – expect when people turn up dead, of course! This time the murder is linked to one of the town’s wealthy residents, a former model and her interior designer husband.

The story ticks all of the cosy mystery ‘tropes’, but in a very well written and well balanced way compared to many. Yes, we have a hint of romance – but it feels nicely ‘real’ and down to earth. The police chief is of course unsympathetic, but it doesn’t come across as wilful negligence. And the characters are drawn into the mystery quite naturally.

For me the best bit is that the mystery was well formed. It’s not quite Agatha, but nor was it too obvious or too deus ex machina. The suspects and red herrings lined up nicely.

This was a really great example of a nice, gentle cosy mystery – ticked all the right boxes and was a lovely wee read. I’ll be back for the third installment!

Cozys are extrememly infomative and  great way to learn new things such as the uses of washi tape, a crafting tape found at Wanted. This Stationary Shop Mystery involves 3D card making, a socialite birthday party, and murder. Once again stationary store co-owner Delta is asked by former police officer Jonas Nord to get to the bottom of a mystery. Hazel, Delta's friend and business partner has her back and the Paper Posse (Tundra's very active adult ladies) are buring up the cell lines hunting down clues to help. This story was full of action from the get go with plenty of suspects to go around. Is it the over wrought model/wife, the wealthy interior decorator/husband, the young and coquetish dog walker, the local designers who were pushed aside, a golden boy nephew, the mysterious workerman, or the ghost of tragedies past. No need to have read the first book to be able to follow along. Definetly a page turner with a suprise ending, a surprise in so many ways and a little bit of a cliff hanger, but isn't that what makes a cozy so good in addition to the well developed characters and the smidge of potential romance for maybe both of the Wanted gals?

This is the second book in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. I enjoyed the first in series and this was absolutely charming and enjoyable as the first book. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own. 

In this fun next in series we return to our protagnist  Delta and her local stationary shop "Wanted". This is a popular shop loved by locals in her small town of Tundish, Montana. I love the local feel of this series and how well the author describes small town Montana to her readers.  Delta has a group called the "Paper Posse" that do crafting at her shop on a regular basis and have become her friends. 

Delta Douglas and her best friend and  partner Hazel are hired to put on a special card-making workshop at the home of a television star. They soon find out none of the wealthy pretentious attendees want anything to do with crafting cards. When a threat occurs and all are on edge a  murder occurs.  Delta is in the middle of an investigation to find the true suspect and solve the mystery. 

This is a enjoyable series with fun crafting included. I look forward to the next in series.

Delta and Hazel are hired to run a 3D card making table at a birthday party for a former supermodel. Jonas has been hired by the woman's husband to provide security since the couple believe someone is after her. During the party, the husband's sister is found murdered. Since the murder victim is wearing a nearly identical outfit to her sister-in-law, the question is who was the intended victim. One of my biggest problems is Delta spent too much time help Jonas with the investigation and not enough time running her business. Things I did like was the identity of the murderer and the introduction of a new character to the series.

This is a solid, 3 star cozy mystery. There are quite a few fun elements in this story [though not nearly enough about the store "Wanted" in this one - I want MUCH more of the stationary store and all its goodies. And yes, it is because I have a serious "problem" in the stationary department! LOL], but unfortunately, there are some issues as well. And that is what kept it from being a 4 star read for me. 

1. NO ONE who has a job [meaning Delta in this book, but a lot of MC's in other books] seems to have to actually <b>WORK</b> at said job. Hazel is a much nicer and much more accommodating boss and friend than I have ever had in my entire working life.  Jonas is both able to do several jobs AND sleuth, so it is possible. Delta needs to learn that and stop leaving her friend in the lurch. She might as well have stayed in Cheyenne since she is not really going to be in at the business she bought into. I do hope this changes in the next book. 

2. It is ICED TEA, not ice tea. I was hoping this was just a simple mistype, but it is in the book + times, so I believe it is the author. One can hope that they caught that before publishing the book. 
[Yes, I know that this seems trivial, but in reality it isn't. If you are going to write books, you need to use proper spelling, pronunciation, and idioms of language]. 

3. They were doing a lot of "diving" into places; the car, a shop, the shower. Apparently, "diving" is the new "ran into" or "got into quickly" etc. There were times it seemed rather dangerous to be "diving in", and I wonder at the overuse of the word [also see "springing into action"] [Again, I realize this seems nitpicky, but if it is affecting the reading of the book, it becomes important. When it is said over and over and the reader starts rolling their eyes at every mention of said word and how it is being used, it absolutely becomes important]. 

4. Is it just me, or are the criminals in cozies becoming easier to disarm and capture? Where is the former excitement of the reveal? It used to be, you'd get to 80% and your pulse would start racing and you'd be on the edge of your seat, wondering who it was and would everyone be safe. 
Now it is just boomboomboom and everyone is caught and there is no drama at all. It is all rather tepid to be honest. 
  **When I wrote this note while I was reading it, I didn't realize it was really a faux reveal [to throw us off I guess. The real reveal was later, and unfortunately, this was also rather tepid, as I had guessed who the killer was early on, so this was anticlimactic to me]. It was still very fast, and very tepid. 

5. <spoiler> This part really bugged me [and in discussing it with a friend that read this book as well, found out it bothered her as well]. Would you [Jonas], as a former cop, after "getting the bad guy", leave the girl to "wrap up the statue, put it back in the box and follow behind"? I think no. What if this guy hadn't been working alone? WHY would he leave Delta alone in the aftermath of a dangerous situation is beyond me. There are so many variables there and even though Delta was safe, he put her in danger by having her do his job. NOT. COOL. JONAS. </spoiler>

6. Why are pantsuits "crisp"? <--This isn't a complaint. I am genuinely interesting in knowing why they are referred this way.  

Overall, this was a decent read. And the things that bugged me are not enough to make me NOT want to read another one. I like Hazel very much and I like all of the other side characters. and the introduction of Gran [Delta's grandmother] and the adorable historian [who's name escapes me at this moment], both whom I hope become regulars in this series. I even like Delta for the most part. She is creative and effusive and seems like a nice person, aside from that whole "I own a business that I don't really need to work in" business. This is a pretty decent series and I am glad to have read this one. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining and well written cozy mystery.  I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

For Letter or Worse by Vivian Conroy is the 2nd book in the Stationery Shop Mystery series. Delta Douglas is excited to be a co-owner of a stationery shop with her best friend Hazel.  Delta and Hazel are  giving a 3D cardmaking workshop at an elite birthday party,when someone turns up dead.  The mystery was full of twists and turns, and is fast paced and has well developed characters and plot. I must admit that I enjoyed the 1st book better,  but I'm look forward to reading more books by this author, and can't wait for the next one in the series. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys  cozy mystery books. 
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.