Tortie Shorties on Mystery Monday

Welcome to this week's edition of Tortie Shorties on Mystery Monday!

We hope you enjoy our choices.

Night of the Furies (Miss Cuddlywumps Investigates Book 4) by Roby Sweet

From the publisher: The tiny village of Brooksford, Maryland, doesn’t seem to be the sort of place where everyone has a skeleton in their backyard, but that is almost exactly what is discovered when an archaeology project brings to light one set of remains after another. And these are not just any remains: they are bodies buried in a way that makes modern residents wonder—and fear—what happened to their ancestors two centuries ago. When the dig’s director is found dead—apparently murdered—more questions arise … such as, who hated him enough to plunge a trowel into his heart?

Rory Roberts and her cat, Miss Cuddlywumps (a.k.a. Miss C) are there once again to sort out the clues, this time with the help of an unwanted houseguest. As Rory bumbles about in her usual random way, Miss C puts her classical education to work to narrow down a list of suspects and systematically investigate them. Clearly, the modern murder is the work of a Fury, one of those horrible goddesses of the underworld who come to pursue the wicked. But which of the likely suspects was furious enough to be the guilty Fury? And what might the mysterious deaths in the town’s distant past mean for its future?

Tortie Shorties Review: There's loads of excitement in Miss Cuddlywumps' world as an archaeological dig is taking place in her very own backyard! So much to watch from the comfort of her bed on the "Rory person's" desk. Things get even better when skeletons start turning up in each of the dig sites, making life quite complicated for the visiting archaeologists working on the project. The dig's director Dr. Darby is determined to protect the integrity of the sites, even resorting to making middle of the night rounds to make sure they aren't disturbed. Only Miss C is watching as during one late night walk-through  Darby isn't alone...and then the next morning is found dead in one of the graves. Rory and Miss C are on the case again (with the help of Rory's visiting mother Elaine) and as they befriend some of the people in Darby's inner circle, they also find some likely suspects. 

In this case Miss C uses her knowledge of classical mythology (thanks to her previous owner, Professor Eleanor) more than ever. She plans to pinpoint the killer by deciding which of the women in Darby's life were Furies - goddesses who pursued and punished the wicked - and the results are surprising. Of course there's also Miss C's ever present enemy, neighbor Mrs. Crabtree who she likens to Medusa. The bodies buried in the yard must be the remnants of Medusa's victims after she turned them to stone! The truth of what's uncovered about the history of these skeletons is fascinating, and has the potential to change the town's path forever. Of course Miss C is as adorable as ever with her keen insight and observations about the world around her. She's a treasure in feline fiction and I just can't get enough of her!

The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams

From the publisher: Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is a place of healing. Strangers flock here hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden.

When a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, she knows exactly which novels will help. But before he can keep their appointment at Miracle Books, he’s found dead on the train tracks.

Stunned, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to gain trust and earn redemption by helping others. To join the society, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place.

Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, the women meet in Nora’s cramped and cozy bookstore to share stories and trade support. And as they untangle a web of corruption, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge—proving it’s never too late to turn the page and start over . . .

Tortie Shorties Review: This book is unusual in that while it's very much a cozy mystery, it also fits nicely in the women's fiction genre as it introduces us to four damaged women who are brought together to solve a murder. Nora, the central character, has disfiguring scars from a fire, and we don't learn the tragic details of what she's been through until the very end. The other women's stories come out gradually over the course of the book, and while they all have very different backgrounds and their friendship seems unlikely, they forge a deep bond over books and scones while plotting to clear the name of one of their own after she's falsely accused of murder. Book lovers will appreciate the many literary references, and for romance readers there's a swoon-worthy love interest for Nora who sees beyond her scars to the beautiful woman within. There's something for everyone in this book, and a cliff-hanger at the end that has me eager to see what's in store for the ladies of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society.

Disclaimer: I bought my copy of Night of the Furies, and received The Secret, Book & Scone Society for free from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. As members of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, if you click on our links and buy something Mudpie gets a little money for her piggy bank!