The Running Bibliophile

Death by Food Truck Review: 4 Cozy Culinary Mysteries Full of Suspense & Romance Death by Food Truck: 4 Cozy Culinary Mysteries by Joi Copeland, Cynthia Hickey, Linda Baten Johnson, and Teresa Ives Lilly is a fun and unique collection of four cozy culinary mystery novellas . Set at Birch Point Lake Park , the stories follow a rash of deaths linked to four different food trucks . Each novella blends mystery, romance, and food, making it a tasty treat for fans of cozy mysteries. This collection was published on July 1, 2023 . I want to thank NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. My Thoughts on the Stories When I first requested Death by Food Truck , I didn’t realize it contained religious themes. The first novella, in particular, leaned heavily on Christian elements, which made it harder for me to fully enjoy. The other three novellas were less religious, though spiritual refe...

Scariest. Book. Ever. (Goosebumps House of Shivers, #1) by R.L. Stine is a new book series for children in middle grades.  It opens with twins Betty and Billy being dropped off at their Uncle Wendell's house while their parents fly to London for two weeks.  What their parent's don't know is that someone is after Wendell and one of his books.  To keep the book safe, the twins must help their uncle. First and foremost, I'd like to thank NetGalley and Scholastic for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC).  As a tween and teen, I loved R.L. Stine's Fear Street book series, so I was excited to be approved to receive Scariest. Book. Ever. (Goosebumps House of Shivers, #1) for free in exchange for my honest review.  I solely requested this book because of that, so I had no idea what to expect going into the story. I'm not the target audience for this book, but I'm sure I would've loved it if I was eight to ten years old.  There were a few red herrings, which was ex...

Clammed Up (Maine Clambake Mystery, #1) by Barbara Ross  is the first book in a charming cozy mystery series set around a family-owned clambake business on a picturesque Maine island. When Julia Snowden returns to Busman’s Harbor to help her mother, sister, and brother-in-law run the family business, she discovers a shocking crime ... a corpse hanging from the banister of their summer home. The local police shut down the clambake, leaving everyone wondering: who is the killer, and can the Snowden Clambake survive while the investigation unfolds? Barbara Ross proves herself as a phenomenal storyteller in Clammed Up . Her vivid descriptions and engaging narrative made me feel as though I was watching the story unfold like a movie. I was completely captivated by the Maine Clambake Mystery series from the very first page. The book is packed with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Although I could rule out a few suspects who appear in later books, the identity ...

How to Catch Santa Claus by Alice Walstead is a children's picture book about Santa Claus delivering presents on Christmas Eve and trying to evade traps that kids have hidden in their houses to catch good old St. Nick.  Published by Sourcebooks Kids, this holiday book is due out on September 1, 2023.  A huge thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for approving my request to read this book. Having always loved the Christmas holidays, I enjoyed reading How to Catch Santa Claus as it brought back all the excitement I had as a little kid waiting for Santa Claus to visit my house and leave gifts.  As a child, I even asked my parents to stay up late and take a photo of the elusive St. Nick . . . a photo my parents gave me the day after Christmas.  Anywho, this book catches all the excitement a child might feel on Christmas Eve.  The writing was well done and the illustrations intriguing. This is the perfect book to read with young children that they should find...

Never Lie by Freida McFadden opens with newlyweds Tricia and Ethan driving to a house showing that is in the middle of nowhere during a snowstorm.  The house once belonged to a psychiatrist who just happened to be murdered.  Upon arriving, they've lost cell phone service and realize that they're going to be snowed in.  Finding a set of keys, the married couple settle in for the night.  While searching for something to keep her entertained, Tricia finds a secret room full of cassette tapes and decides to play one.  What Tricia learns about the former owner unravels a web of lies. Freida McFadden is an author I've heard a lot about in the online book groups I belong to, and the other members have raved about several of the author's novels.  Not knowing much about her writing style or books, I decided to place holds on several of McFadden's novels at my local public library. Entertaining and fast paced, Never Lie by Freida McFadden held my interest, and I f...