As I’m sure you know, Easter is coming!
(Or maybe you don’t. Easter is the one holiday that I can never keep track of because it moves around March/April. But probably you do know, because there are chocolate bunnies and eggs in the stores.)
Easter is a wonderful time of year to curl up with a cozy mystery. From pet cozies featuring cuddly bunnies to culinary cozies featuring delicious Easter treats, there’s something for everyone! And speaking of Easter treats, if you are looking for gluten-free/grain-free, vegan, or low-allergen cut-out cookies, fear not; Recipes from Auntie Clem’s Bakery contains both a sugar cookie and a gingerbread cookie recipe. So grab your favorite mystery, your aprons and baking sheets, and get ready for some delicious Easter reads!
My two that are set around Easter/spring equinox are:
Cut Out Cookie
Who cut out Crazy Theresa?
Erin once again finds herself sandwiched between a friend and her partner’s police investigation when Willie Andrews is accused of killing Crazy Theresa Franklin.
Willie couldn’t have done it.
At least, Erin doesn’t think so.
He isn’t talking to her about it, or to anyone else. There are plenty of other people who might have killed Crazy Theresa. She had enemies. But which one had managed to catch her off guard?
And can Erin ensure that one of her friends does not end up in prison for it?
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ The writing is very skillful, with a multi-layered plot and believable, well-developed characters. Highly recommended!
Like baking mysteries? Cats, dogs, and other pets? Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Author P.D. Workman brings readers back to small town Bald Eagle Falls for another culinary cozy mystery to be solved by gluten-free baker Erin Price and her friends.
Have your gluten-free cake and eat it too. Sink your teeth into this sweet treat now!
Magic Ain’t a Game
Blast from the past!
Spring equinox was supposed to be a fun time in Black Sands.
The magical Spring Games are being held in town, with all kinds of new talent and tourists pouring money into the economy. Of course, Reg wasn’t invited to participate, but she figured she’d have a good time watching the entertainment, learning more about how magic works outside of fairy tales, and maybe making some coin with psychic predictions for the tourists.
But instead of the promised state of balance the equinox was supposed to bring, a power shift within the community has disrupted everything, Reg is under investigation for magical crimes, and her footing in Black Sands is more precarious than ever.
“Tell me again how this was all supposed to be fun?”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love this spellbinding series. I know I’ve said this before, but this series really does get better with each book. The magical crimes investigation had me on the edge of my seat throughout. The excellent storytelling combined with well developed characters and a complex plot make this one great read. —Sandy, Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Let the games begin. Reg has more to worry about than the games as her past comes back in a unexpected way. I love these magical characters and this series. Looking forward to what comes next. —Kandy, Goodreads reviewer
Like paranormal mysteries? Psychics, witches, fairies, and more! Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Author P.D. Workman waves her wand to transport readers to the myth- and magic-filled small town of Black Sands for another paranormal cozy mystery to be solved by Reg Rawlins and her friends.
A self-professed con artist practicing as a contact to the dead, a drop-dead gorgeous warlock, and a psychic cat—what could go wrong?
Fall under Reg’s spell today.
Make it a bundle:
As you may know, the Reg Rawlins series is a spin-off from the Auntie Clem’s Bakery series, and in Cut Out Cookie, you’ll get a bit of an Easter egg with a crossover between the two books!
And More
Looking for a few more eggs to add to your Easter reading basket? Read on!
Chicory is Trickery
It’s springtime in Spicetown and Mayor Cora Mae Bingham discovers there may be trouble blooming along with the rhododendrons!
With construction in full throttle in the new subdivisions and the income tax filing deadline looming over her head, Mayor Cora Mae Bingham is revamping the Annual Easter Eggs-Travaganza and trying to figure out who is in the Easter bunny suit this year, when a dead body has to be added to her To-Do list.
The Easter Sunday Slaughter
APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS
And a bouquet of murderous intrigue…
Amateur sleuth (and ace baker) Claire Andersen is back! Winter melts to spring in scenic Galway, Maryland, uncovering blooming friendships new and old, a shyly budding romance, the rotten stench of organized crime, and family drama more garish than Claire’s emerging blood lilies.
Settling in just fine to her new Appalachian digs (and getting the hang of this whole proprietress of a B&B thing, too!), NYC native Claire Andersen is living a cozy small town fairy tale. There are quirky local characters and adorable little shops, not to mention a kitchen full of mouth-watering baked goodies. She’s a veritable June Cleaver—if Leave It to Beaver were nestled in the mountains and June were a recently retired empty nester, that is.
There’s just one problem. Claire can hardly say “Gee, golly” before her newly-acquainted and much-beloved neighbor winds up murdered in cold blood, right before Galway’s annual Easter parade. Hot off the heels of her last murder, Claire can’t help but get involved (much to the chagrin of the well-meaning albeit bumbling town sheriff). She can hardly help herself, after all. The murder did take place right next door … and the victim’s family is staying in her B&B… Ever the hostess, poking around is the least she could do.
Little does Claire know the victim’s family is just the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the iceberg consists of age-old secrets so duplicitous, they’d make Eddie Haskell run for the hills.
Mix in Claire’s feisty sidekick Evelyn, her ever-lovable bloodhound Rupert, and a mountain of mocha and strawberry buttercream cupcakes—and Claire finds she’s in business. The sleuthing business. Perhaps even the mafia business. But she’d better tread carefully—or she’ll wind up another discarded, frozen body in the aforementioned iceberg (with a spring thaw nowhere in sight).
Author’s Note: This book contains a non-binary character whose preferred pronouns are they/them. If the notion of a non-binary character (and its resultant use of grammar) is offensive, then this book is not for you!
Cinnamon Peters & the Rabbit Bandit
Who really murdered Henrietta O’Reilly?
It’s Easter week in Christmas River. But instead of dying eggs and whipping up delicious Easter treats, pie baker extraordinaire
Cinnamon Peters finds herself pulled into a perplexing mystery.
Before long, it becomes obvious that someone’s out to ruin Easter.
And only Cinnamon holds the key to saving the holiday this year.
Cinnamon Peters & The Rabbit Bandit is an 8,500 word short story based on characters from the Christmas River series and includes a bonus pie recipe. Sweet as a chocolate rabbit and as heartwarming as an Easter egg hunt, this little nugget of Christmas River will make your Easter week! So curl up with a cup of tea and a Cadbury Creme Egg and enjoy a sweet story from Amazon bestselling author Meg Muldoon.
*Author’s Note: Chronologically, this short story takes place during the spring between Menace in Christmas River (Book 8) and Missing in Christmas River (Book 9).
Show Me the Bunny
Aunt Rose already has a strike against her for not being too fond of dogs—or Aunt Peg. But Melanie still agrees to organize Easter festivities at Gallagher House, the new women’s shelter opened by the stern former nun, even if it takes all the jellybeans in Greenwich to sweeten the arrangement. No sooner does Melanie arrive to dye multicolor eggs and stuff baskets, than she learns devasting news about Beatrice Gallagher, the respected benefactor of the estate. Beatrice has fallen to her death, and the circumstances are shocking . . .
No one can say why or how charitable Beatrice got pushed into an early grave. Facing an uncertain future as danger lurks around Gallagher House, Melanie and Aunt Rose must tolerate each other’s company long enough to discover the truth about Beatrice’s true nature and identify a vengeful killer—before another person’s idyllic spring break becomes a serious nightmare . . .
The Chocolate Bunny Brouhaha
The approach of Easter means a rush of business at TenHuis Chocolade, and Lee Woodyard and her aunt Nettie need all the help they can get to make their famous chocolate bunnies. Unfortunately, new hire Bunny Birdsong is a klutzy basket case. But to Lee’s surprise, she’s a wiz with computers and fixing the store’s website, so they decide to keep her.
However, Bunny receives a few visitors they could do without: Her soon-to-be ex-husband Beau, his wealthy aunt Abigail, and his new girlfriend and her brother all descend on the shop one day and have a bitter argument. Lee hopes they can find a peaceful way to settle their dispute, but when Abigail’s body is discovered in the vacant store next door, it’s clear to Lee there’s a bad egg in her midst. Now she’s on the hunt to find out who it is…
Easter in Stickleback Hollow
A Surprise for Easter in Stickleback Hollow
It’s Easter in Stickleback Hollow and everyone had their own way of celebrating. The year has been filled with turmoil, but Easter brings a time of new beginnings, new hope and renewal that the residents of Stickleback Hollow sorely need.
Lady Sarah and the brigadier have gone to visit a chocolate maker in Birmingham by the name of John Cadbury, whilst the other residents of Stickleback Hollow mend fences, and prepare to celebrate the season in the idyllic Victorian village.
When her parents die from fever, Lady Sarah Montgomery Baird Watson-Wentworth has to leave India, a land she was born and raised in, and travel to England for the first time. Finding it almost impossible to adjust to London society, Sarah flees to the county of Cheshire and the country estate of Grangeback that borders the village of Stickleback Hollow. A place filled with oddballs, eccentrics and more suspicious characters than you can shake a stick at, Sarah feels more at home in the sleepy little village than she ever did in the big city, however, even sleepy little villages have mysteries that must be solved.
A Medium’s Easter Epiphany
A boyfriend changes everything!
In book five of the Becky Tibbs cozy, paranormal mystery series, Becky must learn how to juggle her personal and business life now that she has a real boyfriend! This is a first for Becky and her new schedule sometimes feels overwhelming.
The author recommends that you read this series in order, beginning with A Medium’s Birthday, Book 1.
At Becky’s encouragement, Bobby and Barbara finally decided to accept their special ability too. At least, they are open to using their gift if the opportunity presents itself. Barbara actually manages to help someone new with their ghost problem and the meeting turns into something more. Unlike Marty, Barb’s ex-boyfriend, this new person, Christopher, accepts Barbara and her capabilities exactly as she is. In fact, he is impressed.
Jealousy rears its ugly head!
Marty finally goes off the deep end and Becky must help Patty come to terms with his rage. Becky’s epiphany, or sudden realization, is a concept that would be beneficial to everyone.
Killer Easter Pie
Are you ready for a taste of Spring? How about robbery, murder, and an Easter Egg hunt? When a jewelry shop in the Old Market is robbed, and an expensive jeweled egg is stolen, it seems someone might be out to ruin Easter.
For pie shop owner Bertha Hannah, however, she has very little time to think about crime as she is preparing for the annual city Easter Egg Hunt at the community gardens. Businesses and churches from all over the city are contributing to the event, and Bert has a new pie recipe planned for the day. Festivities are brought to a screeching halt, however, when a body is found in the bushes. Is this new death connected to the egg robbery?
When the finger of accusation seems to be pointed in the direction of a friend, Bert knows it is up to her to solve this mystery before the Easter Bunny hops away with all the clues.
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder
Hannah’s up to her ears with Easter orders rushing in at The Cookie Jar, plus a festive meal to prepare for a dinner party at her mother’s penthouse. But everything comes crashing to a halt when Hannah receives a panicked call from her sister Andrea—Mayor Richard Bascomb has been murdered . . . and Andrea is the prime suspect.
Even with his reputation for being a bully, Mayor Bascomb had been unusually testy in the days leading up to his death, leaving Hannah to wonder if he knew he was in danger. There are plenty of suspects to sift through for sure. And as orders pile up at The Cookie Jar—and children line up for Easter egg hunts—Hannah must spring into investigation mode and identify the real killer . . . before another murder happens!
Easter Bunny Murder
With a harsh Maine winter finally over, Lucy Stone is excited to cover the annual Easter egg hunt for the Tinker’s Cove Pennysaver. Hosted by elderly socialite Vivian Van Vorst at her oceanfront estate, it’s a swanky event where the eggs are as likely to contain savings bonds as jelly beans. But when Lucy arrives at Pine Point, the gates are locked, and a man dressed as the Easter Bunny emerges, only to drop dead moments later…
The victim is Vivian’s grandson, and all is not well at Pine Point. Vivian has been skipping lunch dates, and her charitable donations have abruptly stopped. Is she going senile? Or are her heirs a little too anxious to take over her estate? As Lucy gathers a basketful of suspects, she’ll have to try not to fall down a rabbit hole as she chases a killer with a deadly case of spring fever…
