by Tracy Condie & Kiana Wall

This week we have reviews and giveaways of 3 more cozy mysteries for your spring reading, two are book related and one involves matchmaking-Booking for Trouble by Jenn McKinlay, If Books Could Kill: A Tea and Tomes Mystery by Karen Rose Smith, and Murder at an Irish Session: An Irish Village Mystery by Carlene O’Connor. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win copies of both books, and a link to purchase each book from Amazon is at the end of each review.

Booking for Trouble by Jenn McKinlay
Review by Kiana Wall

Booking for Trouble is the 16th installment in Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mystery series, starring Lindsey Norris and her dreamboat husband Mike. Even jumping headfirst into the long-running series, I felt instantly at home in the library among Lindsey’s friends and most difficult patrons. McKinlay creates a warm, charming atmosphere with her delightful writing.

Lindsey doesn’t consider herself a creative person––but when the threat of losing the library’s funding threatens her sacred space (and her job), Lindsey comes up with the idea of taking the library on the road––that is, on a boat. With the help of her husband, she sets out to bring books to the people on outlying islands.

However, things begin to go downhill, beginning with the feud between two families on Split Island. Things escalate when Lindsey finds a dead body, and it looks like someone is being framed. She takes it upon herself to assist the police––and looks closely behind the facades of high society.

Playing dangerous games with her reputation, the library, the library boat, and the investigation, Lindsey comes through on all counts. With witty, charming writing, McKinlay sends readers through treacherous waters, barely avoiding sinking!

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

Kiana Wall lives in Reedley, CA and is 17. She enjoys reading,
writing, and a number of different crafts in her spare time. She also
loves anything to do with horses.

If Books Could Kill: A Tea and Tomes Mystery by Karen Rose Smith
Review by Tracy Condie

What should have been a fun Winterfest event in the town of Belltower Landing, complete with ice sculptures and a fun “date night” scavenger hunt, turns into a chilling encounter with death. Jazzi Swanson is no stranger to murder mysteries. She watched her mom, Daisy Swanson Groft, a talented, albeit reluctant amateur sleuth, solve or help solve more than her share in Pennsylvania. (Check out Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery series.) Jazzi never expected to be following in her mom’s footsteps. One of the reasons she chooses to go away to college and live in Belltower Landing was to desire to live where her mom’s mystery-solving reputation doesn’t overshadow the person whom Jazzi is trying to become.

Matilda, the thoroughly organized head librarian, meets with Jazzi to get advice about friction with a new employee, Tinsley Riva. Matilda and Tinsley are not meshing well at all. There isn’t animosity per se, but something seems tense. Matilda respects how Jazzi’s crew at Tea & Tomes seems to be a friendly bunch who work really well together. Matilda also respects Jazzi as a fellow bibliophile. Matilda loves really old, really valuable books as well, and even gives Jazzi a peek at some rare first editions.

Matilda is also experiencing a problem with a romantically inclined yet pushy library patron who is not taking no for an answer. So, of course, Matilda is the victim, and Jazzi feels the need to uncover the truth. With the disappearance of the hidden books, one has to ask oneself, was this a robbery gone wrong or a stalker related situation? Either way, Jazzi cannot help but be drawn into yet another mystery.
Jazzi begins with a suspect list and some insight from members of her reading group which meets at Tea & Tomes. Speaking of the reading group, the format is different from most book clubs. Each person brings a book they are reading and shares some insight about it, rather than the whole group reading the same book. It exposes a reader to multiple books, one of which might turn out to be their next great read. Much to Detective Milford’s dismay, the locals bless Jazzi with helpful and sometimes not so helpful information.

I was happy to see Daisy make an appearance in this book. She reminds Jazzi of the benefits of speaking with a therapist or counselor, which is great advice, and it applies to more characters than just Jazzi.

This story does a very good job of broaching some tough topics such as therapy, growing up as an adopted child, growing up in an abusive home, and letting a friend know that you value them but are not attracted to them. As with the preceding books, the clues are laid as to not be obvious, the red herrings are not overdone, and the baked goods make my mouth water just reading about them. I have so many questions based on the ending, but I don’t want to leave any spoilers.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

Murder at an Irish Session: An Irish Village Mystery by Carlene O’Connor
Review by Tracy Condie

The sounds of love have come to the town of Kilbane, or at least the King of Matchmakers and his latest musical matches who have come together for a festival that featured trad sessions. A third-generation professional matchmaker, Liam Noone, has come at the request of one Detective Sergeant Siobhán O’Sullivan Flannery. Siobhan is like a mother hen as opposed to an older sister and just wants to see her siblings, the O’Sullivan Six to be happily paired. She herself has a wonderful husband, Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery, and they are five months away from meeting not one but two bundles of joy. One of my favorite aspects of this series is the way Macdara and Siobhán interact, with respect, love, and a very good bit of humor.

In case you are wondering what is involved in a trad session, it is a performance of traditional Irish music that is impromptu and often takes place in a pub or similar surroundings. Sounds like a grand time, right? Ah, but it is also an opportunity for a little drama, a little blackmail, and a little murder in a rather cupid-like fashion paired with a musical accompaniment. It was easy to see how Liam got himself killed, and with so many possible suspects, it was not going to be an easy apprehension, but then again, it never is.

To start the list off there is Grace Collins, harp player, personal assistant, and Matchmaker super (maybe over the top) fangirl. Then there is Ron Gallagher, a double bass player and self-proclaimed protege who is ready to take possession of The Lucky Book full of Liam’s tips and tricks, notes, and schemes. A small character with a big personality, the Wee Stringman is an expert shot with a bow and takes part in a dust up on the first day. In addition to all that, I am not entirely sure that the musical love birds aren’t playing musical chairs as there seems to have been some wheeling and dealing involved prior to the official matching. Liam’s dad and grandpa would be rolling over in their graves if they knew how Liam had truly monetized his “gift.”

This is a mystery that has several unique and particular aspects that kept me turning the electronic pages of my Kindle. There is the glow in the dark lipstick that shined like a beacon, to the bow that was made into an arrow from a double bass. Like all the books that came before, this is a stand-alone story, but you really are going to want to start at the beginning and get caught up before the wee ones arrive.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win copies of all 3 books, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “bookish matchmaking” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen April 18, 2026. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify.

Tracy Condie is a paralegal by day and cozy armchair sleuth by night. When she is not working or reading, she enjoys preparing the recipes found in culinary cozies or researching recipes of meal items described therein and sharing reviews of both books and food on Instagram and on KRL. She lives in Corona, California with her husband and dog Zoolie, and looks forward to visiting with their grown sons when their time permits.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Kings River Life Magazine

Message History

Delivery option(s)