This is the first book I read/listen from this author and I really enjoyed it. The narration is vey good and the author’s writing style makes the story flows smoothly. The characters were interesting, but also believable and the pets gave an extra touch to the story. I will definitely read the previous books from this serie.

This was cute and little unhinged and I loved it. The murder victim dies in his car being bitten by a bag full of snakes? Like, WHAT? Totally unhinged for a cozy mystery. These characters are seriously growing on me though, and then ending on a cliffhanger with Sister Daria? Like what am I supposed to do now? This is going to be a fun series.

Release Date: March 21, 2023

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Quinn Caine and the cast of characters in her life (the entire town of Vienna) are in for another whodunnit. Just when everything is returning to the calm that Quinn and her sidekicks, Ruff Barker Ginsburg and Sister Daria, are used to in their beloved town of Vienna, a Broadway star crash-lands into their peace and quiet. Former ladies man Chad Frivole, is Vienna’s prodigal son—the once notorious lothario has returned a Broadway star, ready to make a different kind of mark on his hometown. When things go awry, the mystery ensues.

This is the second book in the #bookbindingmystery series by @harperkincaid. The dual narrative really threw me off, I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t read the first book, so maybe that’s the missing piece? The ending to #amidsummernightsscheme left the reader with a huge question regarding Daria's future. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this particular book enough to make sure I catch the next one. If I happen upon it, I’ll give the series a second chance but this one is a skip.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#midsummersnightsscheme #harperkincaid
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Having not read the first book in the series, I was a bit lost at first. The plot had twists and red herrings and the characters were interesting. I would have enjoyed the audiobook more if the narrator had not used such cartoonish voices for the adult women characters. I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

This was an eagerly awaited second in the series. This time it seems to be more from Sister Daria’s point of view, than cousin Quinn’s. The story is full of real life situations such as religious choices, high school mistakes, and learning that you can’t run from your past hurts forever. This is a serious story with some serious plot points in addition to being a great cozy. Several times I found myself laughing out loud, sniffling and murmuring, as well as making “awe, that is so cute” comments. Ms. Kincaid does a great job with not only creating interesting characters but also layering the story into an amazing creation. I am not a fan of the serpent, the spider, or the scorpion (ICK, EEK, ACK). I must give her credit for a unique murder method and a cast of characters with plenty of reasons to want Broadway star and former Vienna High’s heart-stomper Chad, dead, and in such a violent way. I was able to figure out the “who” but not the “why”. I was also glad that the family drama was worked through, and while I would like to think that I would not act like Bash and Quin’s folks, I will keep this book close by as a reminder. Lastly, the cliffhanger…can I say it, #TeamLucas. I am not sure why Sister Daria hasn’t figured out that running is not the answer but it sure looks like she might just get some closure. Oh, and I sure how she gets it before Quinn realizes who is making a guest appearance because she is going to be suspect #1 if anything happens to the guy. I bet that Senya would happily represent her if needed. Now those friend pickles as described in the recipe at the back of the book and am oh so grateful that the snake taco is not listed, although I am sure it tastes like chicken.

This is a deliciously cozy crime! I enjoyed reading about Quinn & Sister Daria again & all the lovable residents of Vienna! I loved getting more of Sister Daria’s backstory. Thoroughly enjoyable and can’t wait to read more!

-+*Quinn and Sister daria are quirky characters who cannot resist getting involve is a murder.
Who would want to murder an actor.
The twists and suspects will keep you wondering.
THe secon book will drama. suspense, some family drams and romance.
Voluntarily reviewed.
Good narration.

This second outing for bookbinder Quinn Caine and her cousin Elizabeth/now Sister Daria is an enjoyable read, for the most part, with its interesting characters, nostalgia, mystery, and humor. The book also includes some very challenging personal dilemma, some that adds to the intrigue and promise of more to come, but one particular situation that is disappointing to me. Although the author attempts to add some balance to that situation, involving Quinn's brother and his fiance, I admit I am not comfortable with the way it was handled. I will not go into detail here, but be aware that a controversial subject is part of the story. My advice is to read the book and decide for yourself.

The narration is fine.

There was so much to enjoy within the pages of this fun, cozy mystery. A cast of quirky characters, some really good amateur sleuthing and a perfect cozy setting, this was everything I’d hoped for and then some.

This is the second book in Harper Kincaid’s Bookbinding Mystery series and it did not disappoint. Renee Dorian’s narration made for a really enjoyable listen.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley and Harper Kincaid for the opportunity to listen to an advance audiobook of this title. This is my honest review and the opinions expressed above are my own.

I've never read a cozy mystery with dual narrators, so this was quite a treat. The two main characters (a crime solving book lover and her postulate nun cousin) are marvelous and we get plenty of family dynamic shenanigans with the mystery. This is a twisty, turny mystery that I didn't have sorted until almost the same point the main characters did. I also look forward to seeing where Sister Daria's story goes in further books. A lovely, light mystery that has a lot of heart.

I am so confused. I am not Christian so I admit I am not familiar with the rules to becoming a nun, but I am 80% sure you are not supposed to have a boyfriend you spent the night with. So either I got confused and was mixing up characters or there were some big errors in the story. The plot was ok for a cozy mystery, I think I have realized that cozy mysteries just aren't for me. There were things happening that were distracting me from the story because I just couldn't picture out they worked.

3 stars

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S SCHEME is the second book in the Bookbinding Mystery series by Harper Kincaid. This fast-paced read captured my attention from the very beginning and, having read a lot of mystery books, this is the first time an author had me going WOW from the weapon(s) used! It takes a creative mind to come up with scenarios as used in the book, and Ms. Kincaid surprised me twice! The book has two protagonists, the main one being Quinn Caine, and the secondary protagonist, her cousin (and nun in training) Sister Daria. I love their close relationship, along with her other family members, and how Quinn and Daria work together to solve the crime. The supporting characters—especially Quinn’s dog, Ruff Barker Ginsburg—are equally charming and well-defined.

The murder mystery was well-plotted, and the scenes flowed. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing and at the reveal, I found I’d guessed wrong. With the threads of the story wrapped up nicely, there’s still enough of a teaser to have me eagerly awaiting what comes next for Quinn and Daria! If you haven’t read the first book, this can easily be read as a standalone since the author does an admirable job with the characters and provides a bit of backstory without detracting from the flow of the plot.

Trigger alert: if you have a snake or spider phobia, this book won’t be for you. I’ll admit to several heebie jeebie moments myself.

The narrator, Renee Dorian, did an admirable job with the characters and brought them to life. Not once was I confused by who was speaking. Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Vienna so it’s nice to visit it (although it sure has changed a lot!). The story started off slow but picked up when all the snakes were thrown; then I was intrigued and hooked. I enjoyed this one more than the first but still find the convent and Sister Daria to be an odd addition. She doesn’t seem suited to a cloistered life and the levity associated with the calling feels a little like a slap in the face for those that are called to it. I understand everyone has their own personalities and that nuns aren’t serious all the time but she barely even seems to be there. The mystery kept me guessing until the end and I had fun following the clues along with Quinn and Sister Daria.

I received this audio book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an enjoyable book. It is light and fun. The mystery keeps the listener interested, and the murder method is inventive. The narrator does a good job, and the narration is smooth.

This is the second book in a series, and the author gives a lot of information in the beginning about the setting, characters, and history from the first book. It provides context, but slows the plot.

The book begins with Quinn as protagonist, but abruptly switches to Sister Daria, who is Quinn's cousin. The change is not explained, leaving the listener wondering what happened. Quinn is a secondary character throughout the remainder of the book. Once past this, the story flows evenly.

This is a good audio to listen to while working out or driving. It doesn't require intense concentration and despite the issues above is worth a listen.

A Midsummer Night's Scheme by Harper Kincaid

The second in a cozy mystery series, A Midsummer Night's Scheme centers on Quinn Caine and the case of characters in her life. Just when everything is returning to the calm that Quinn and her sidekicks, Ruff Barker Ginsburg and Sister Daria, are used to in their beloved town of Vienna, a Broadway star crash-lands into their peace and quiet. Former ‘player’, Chad Frivole, is Vienna’s prodigal son—the once notorious lothario has returned a Broadway star, ready to make a different kind of mark on his hometown. When things go awry, the mystery ensues.

In many ways it's a typical cozy mystery - someone unlikeable is killed, the amateur detective works with her quirky friends/family to try to solve the mystery while people try to stop her, and there is a romance with the local police officer. In that way it's exactly what I want my cozies to be.

However, I had a hard time following the various characters and plot lines. At times I was confused about which character was being referenced. I just wasn't that invested in finding out what happened.

I enjoyed the narrator, Renee Dorian, who does a good job giving voice to the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for a free copy of A midsummer Night's Scheme for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. #AMidsummerNightsScheme #NetGalley

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I love cozy mysteries, but there was a secondary theme that centered on religion and the conflicts it causes that just didn't seem like the right time or place. Since two of the characters are essentially questioning their Christian faith in favor of another path in life, it felt like a commentary on the Christian faith. Since I wasn't expecting that in a cozy mystery, it detracted from the story for me.

Also, since this is the second book in a series, and I hadn't read the first book, I did feel there was a lot of backstory that wasn't explained. Readers may understand it better if they have already read the first book beforehand.

When we weren't chasing rabbit trails, I did enjoy the actual mystery portion of the story, but agreed with another reviewer that Sister Daria seemed to be the central character more than Quinn, even though Daria is supposed to be the sidekick, not the detective.

While the ending left us with a huge question regarding Daria's future, I didn't enjoy this particular book enough to make sure I catch the next one, unfortunately.

Thank you to Harper Kincaid, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

A former womanizer returns to town only to wind up dead from venomous snakes. Is it a jilted lover? Quinn feels more sorry for the cat he left behind but when her brother is the target of a venomous spider attack she and Sister Daria kick the investigation into high gear.

I'm always up for trying a new cozy mystery series. A Midsummer Night's Scheme is the second book in the Bookbinding Mystery series. I haven't read book 1 and I actually thought that this was much further in the series than just book 2. There's some back story provided but like I said it felt like I was picking up the 9th or 10th book. I didn't even realize that Quinn was a bookbinder - I'm not sure there were any scenes of her working.

The audiobook was a quick listen. The story moved fast so it all seems like a blur. Also, there was a lot of vivid description - maybe too much description. I kept getting lost in the details and missing the story. This probably wouldn't have been as much of a problem if I had been reading the book as I could have skimmed over some of the words. But when you are listening to a book you pay attention to every word and it was just a lot of stuff to process quickly.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday, March 20 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/03/a-midsummer-nights-scheme-by-harper.html

It wasn't until I was re-reading the book summary for this review that I realized the main sleuth was probably supposed to be Quinn (which would make sense as it is the Bookbinding Mystery series and she's the bookbinder), but through the whole book, I thought it was Sister Daria. Apparently, she is the sidekick, but I found her to be an interesting character. She's about to take her vows to the Church and become a nun. The Order she is joining trains therapy dogs which goes nicely with what she had been doing before deciding to join the church - she was a social worker.

The parts of the story that included Daria were my favorite. I'm not sure she is actually going to become a nun. However, I'm not sure I will stick with this series to find out. It was just an okay cozy mystery for me.

The murder by venomous snakes was a new twist for me and I kind of like that Kincaid is willing to use unconventional murder methods. There are other fun moments throughout the story. And if you like cozy mysteries with pets there are two adorable ones in this one. They even have fun names: the cat is called Cindy Clawford and the dog is RGB - Ruff Barker Ginsburg.

The narrator, Renee Dorian, does a good job with the various characters. They are each unique and easily distinguishable.

Quinn Caine is working in her parents' bookshop in Vienna, Virginia and enjoying her fairly new relationship with the hunky cop Aiden Harrington. When she has any spare time, she walks her dog Ruff Barker Ginsburg (RBG for short) and hangs out with her cousin, Sister Daria. Daria is nearly ready to take her final vows and become a nun. She enjoys working with the convent's dog rescue program. She joined the convent after a particularly painful breakup with her long-term boyfriend, who's Indian parents wanted him to marry a girl from their own background. One of Daria and Quinn's former classmates, Chad Frivole, left their small town and became a star on Broadway. He's recently returned with the intention of setting up an acting program. Since he dated and dumped most of the women in town, few are happy to see him back. In fact, someone was very upset -- to the point that they trapped Chad in his car with a pile of deadly snakes. Chad doesn't survive. With so many suspects, can Quinn find out which of the angry townspeople were upset enough to kill? One good thing does come out of Chad's death when Quinn takes responsibility for his cat, Cindy Clawford, and RGB takes her new feline friend under her paw.

There are also a lot of religious aspects to the book. When Quinn's brother becomes engaged to a Jewish woman and announces his plans to convert, his Christian parents are none too pleased. Sister Daria is devoted to her calling, but suddenly and unexpectedly becomes attracted to a hunky mechanic in town. The story ended on something of a cliffhanger, so we'll have to wait for the next book to find out how everything turns out!

The narrator did a good job with the different voices, but some of the narration seemed a bit overenunciated. It was a somewhat odd effect! I did enjoy the book and look forward to the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this title. This is a predictable, enjoyable cozy mystery involving the murder of a hometown Broadway star, and threats to other individuals. Quinn and her religious sister cousin, Daria do the heavy lifting to solve the mysteries.

All of you should know by now that reading cozy mysteries, is a comfortable for me and throw in a relationship with a someone on the police force, you have my heart.

This is the second book in the series, and I can’t Wait for the next book, considering the way the author, left the cliffhanger, it better be fast. The writing and the plot was really good, even though I kinda guessed the killer halfway through the book, I still loved the mystery.

They were was a character development, which i loved. The relationships in the book better stay the way they are, if any of them break up, the author is going to get my therapy bill. One star is off because leaving it on a cliffhanger was not nice at all.

Thanks to netgalley and the author for a early audiobook in exchange of a honest review.