Earthly Delights: Corinna Chapman Mystery (Corinna Chapman Mysteries), Kerry Greenwood; Poisoned Pen Press

“Corinna Chapman was once a high profile accountant and banker. Now she is a baker working in her own business, Earthly Delights, in Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Australia. Corinna is living in an eccentric building on the Roman model called Insula. She is quite content with her cat, Horatio, and her shop until a junkie falls half dead on her grate, a gorgeous sabra stalks along her alley and tells her that she is beautiful, and she starts receiving threatening letters accusing her of being a scarlet woman. Life for Corinna has suddenly become interesting. And she still needs to get her bread out in time for the morning rush….”

Liz’s Notes: Entertaining characters, a terrific sense of place and mouthwatering descriptions of food make this Australian mystery absolutely delightful.

Dying To Call You: A Dead-end Job Mystery, Elaine Viets; Signet

“While making the best of her new telemarketing job, Helen Hawthorne thinks she hears a murder on the other end of the line-and must avoid a close call with a killer.”

Liz’s Note: One of the great things about this humorous series is knowing that the author has actually worked all of the “Dead End” jobs she writes about. Reading about the people on the other end of those annoying telemarketing calls is eye opening as well as very entertaining.

Murder With Peacocks (A Meg Lanslow Mystery), Donna Andrews; St. Martin's Minotaur

“Three Weddings…And a Murder So far Meg Langslow’s summer is not going swimmingly. Down in her small Virginia hometown, she’s maid of honor at the nuptials of three loved ones - each of whom has dumped the planning in her capable hands. One bride is set on including a Native American herbal purification ceremony, while another wants live peacocks on the lawn. And, in whirl of summer parties and picnics, Southern hospitality is strained to the limit by an offensive newcomer who hints at skeletons in the guests’ closets.”

Liz’s Note: Looking for a funny mystery? The Meg Langslow series is a hoot. Murder With Peacocks won the St. Martin’s Press/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Contest.

English School Of Murder, Ruth Dudley Edwards; Poisoned Pen Press

“Can anyone British teach English as a foreign language? It’s murder…. “Adroit, inspiring, and written with a rare lightness of touch, ”—The London Times Literary Supplement “Believable plotting, a memorable cast of characters, and three—count ‘em—three beguiling sleuths in a warm, gently raunchy, crisp, and literate caper.”—Kirkus Reviews “Amiss is bumblingly appealing and howlingly funny.”—The Chicago Sun Times He’s also a civil servant down on his luck and out of a job—and thus ripe for a post as a police spy at the Knightsbridge School. Robert’s cover will be to teach English as a foreign language. His mission soon becomes, well, murder…. “

Liz’s Note:Edwards grew up reading the classics of the Golden Age of mysteries - Christie, Sayers, Marsh, Innes and Crispin, and it shows in her thoroughly entertaining series. Witty dialogue, clever characters and an intelligent plot make this a treat for lovers of the traditional mystery.

Audrey, Wait!, Robin Benway; Razorbill

“While trying to score a date with her cute co-worker at the Scooper Dooper, sixteen-year-old Audrey gains unwanted fame and celebrity status when her ex-boyfriend, a rock musician, records a breakup song about her that soars to the top of the Billboard charts.”
Robin’s Note: This title has a tiny bit of the fantastic thrown in, as Audrey suddenly becomes famous due to her ex suddenly gaining fame and fortune from writing a song about their break up, but once you get into the actual story, it’s a witty, sharp examination of love, music, commitment, and being true to yourself.  Audrey is far from a doormat, and though her sudden notoriety throws her for a loop, with the help of her best friends and possible new boyfriend, she will take control of her life and story.

Crown Duel (Originally Published As The Two Books Crown Duel And Court Duel) (Firebird), Sherwood Smith; Puffin

“To fulfill their father’s dying wish, teenage Countess Meliara and her brother Branaric organize a revolution against a greedy king.”

Robin’s Note: This fantasy tale, originally published as two separate novels Court Duel and Crown Duel, is a wit-driven romance combined with a struggle for control of a kingdom.  Our heroine, opinionated and clever (and a bit naive), is a country royal driven to try to save her own kingdom by confronting the court and ruler in the distant capital city.  The combination of funny dialog, building romance, and an action-packed plot make for a speedy read with great charm and spirit.  This is another teen title, essentially, but one that shares a lot with Austen in terms of the set up of the romance and the highlight of intelligence and clever conversation.