Dead Man's Chest
by Kerry Greenwood is a great addition to her list of mysteries featuring Phryne Fisher
Too much mayhem and mystery has gotten Phryne Fisher longing for a few weeks sojourn at the seaside and she promises her ‘family’ no murders. As she arrives in the town of Queenscliff it looks like the perfect place to relax, but a mystery is afoot as they step into the rented home of a friend. Where are the Johnsons who were supposed to meet Phyrne’s group? Did they leave with their furniture or did someone else take it? And why was the kitchen left completely empty, without so much as a teabag for a restorative cup of tea upon their arrival? In typical fashion Phryne sorts out the problems and looks to her two adoptive daughters, Jane & Ruth, her companion, Dot, and even her dog, Molly, (she’s good at barking, but not too daring) to get things underway. Ruth, who wants to be a chef, would like to work on the kitchen, develop a few menus (at least 4 courses for the main meal each day) and starts listing foodstuffs the household will need during their stay. A neighbor lends a kitchen girl to help with peeling, slicing and dicing and a boy, eager, but used to living on the streets, is given a job as general factotum. As usual, Phryne is soon on the trail of ne’er-do-wells, but as to her promise of no murders, you’ll have to decide that one for yourself.

Advent of a Mystery
by Marilyn Leach is the first in what I hope will be a long series.
The setting is the English countryside town of Aiden Kirkwood where Hugh Elliot is the new vicar of Saint Aiden of the Wood Parish Church. Hugh has been vicar for only a few months. Christmas is approaching, but in the middle of all the preparations, one of their eldest parishioners is murdered. There are very few clues and the local constabulary is rushing to close the case. While Hugh's wife, Berdie, had promised her husband to stay away from any investigating - he is the vicar after all - and particularly mysteries or murders, Berdie and her best friend, Lillie, cannot help but offer their services in Christian duty ... and maybe snoop just a little.
One of my favorite English TV shows is Midsomer Murders, based on books by Carolyn Graham. This mystery reminds me of that series, even down to the long-suffering spouse, which is Hugh in this case. The mystery has been likened to Agatha Christie with a touch of Jan Karon's village stories as well. If you like cozy mysteries, I recommend this title.

Romance novels are not typically where one would find mayhem and murder, but this one is laugh out loud funny with both. The quirky characters in this novel are downhome types with a twist of paranormal in them. There's Glenda, the sorceress, who can make flames appear on her fingers, Delpha, the seer, who really can tell your fortune and Cindy, who invents ice cream flavors like What-Love-Can-Do Strawberry for couples in love and The-Kids-Will-Go-Back-To-School-Soon Lemon which is calming. Jennifer Crusie's book, Wild Ride, written with John Mayer is an enchanting read and deliciously funny.

Mary Alice (Mab) Brannigan grew up in a small town that has an amusement park, Dreamland. Her mother was an opponent of the park - for reasons that become clear by the end of the book - when Mab was growing up, so Mab never visited. After college, her knowledge of carnival restoration made her the perfect person to restore the statues and artwork that had been in the park for decades. Her uncle owns 50% of the park (when and how did that happen?) and got her the job. She's hoping to finish up before October when Dreamland becomes Screamland, but this is where the fun begins. Soon one of her statues walks right into her and another demon appears to be on the loose as well. One of her friend's eyes starts glowing (and what does that mean?) Quickly Mab and Ethan (he's the hunk with the glowing eyes) are caught up and almost begin to believe in the weird happenings in the park, and who or what is behind it all? But this is, above all, a romance with boy meets girl in some pretty hectic situations.