On the shelves - March 8

These books are available at the Clovis-Carver Public Library:

Definition: cozy mystery. A comedic, lighthearted murder mystery with plenty of humor, no graphic violence or sex, and an amateur sleuth from a close-knit community who solves crimes, all while juggling a day job, hobby, or other responsibilities. Check out the following “cozies,” just a few of those eligible for the Kensington Cozy Card program, offering readers a copy of their own cozy mystery to keep.

“Elementary, She Read” by Vicki Delany. Gemma Doyle has returned to the quaint town of West London on Cape Cod to manage her Great Uncle Arthur's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium. When Gemma finds a rare and potentially valuable magazine containing the first Sherlock Homes story hidden in the bookshop, she and her friend Jayne set off to find the owner, only to stumble upon a dead body. The highly perceptive Gemma is the police's first suspect, so she puts her consummate powers of deduction to work to clear her name. But when Gemma and Jayne accidentally place themselves at a second murder scene, it's a race to uncover the truth before the detectives lock them up for good.

“Dressed for Death” by Julianna Deering. Drew and Madeline Farthering celebrate their six-month anniversary by attending a fancy Regency era costume party. Drew is glad to see Talbot Cummins and his fiancée, Alice Henley, though many present seem worried about the couple. Everyone's concerns are realized when, at the concluding grand ball, Alice dies of an overdose of cocaine. Tal refuses to believe she took the stuff intentionally, and Drew is determined to find out if her death was an accident or murder. Reeling from the death of his fiancée, Tal begs Drew to find out what's going on.

“What the Bishop Saw” by Vannetta Chapman. A fire blazes out of control in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, leaving an elderly Amish bachelor dead. Someone intended to kill Vernon Frey. But who? Well, practically everyone-Amish and Englisch alike. When the police point the finger at a suspect Henry knows is innocent, the bishop must decide whether or not to use his mysterious God-given gift to try and set the record straight.

“Needle and Dread” by Elizabeth Lynn Casey. Downtown Sweet Briar is now home to a new sewing shop run by one of the circle's own. With the help and support of her fellow members, Rose is determined to make SewTastic a success, and she decides to sponsor a series of do-it-yourself weekends for sewing enthusiasts. But when a group arrives at SewTastic to work on a project, a loud and argumentative guest pushes everyone's buttons. And when she winds up dead in Rose's project room it's up to Tori and the gang to stitch together the clues.

“Homeward Hound” by Rita Mae Brown. As winter deepens over the Blue Ridge Mountains, even the threat of snowstorms cannot derail this year's Christmas run. With spirits high and traditions strong, a glorious parade of hunters in full holiday regalia gathers on the grounds of Tattenhall Station. But a blinding blizzard brings an early end to the sport. Gregory Luckham is the missing hunter. A search is organized for what is presumed will be a dead, frozen body. What is discovered, however, chills everyone to the bone.

— Summaries provided by library staff