It’s not often that I find a book I am willing to recommend to others as a must read. But for those moments when I do, I really want to go out of my way to recommend them to fellow bookworms who may be in need of something new to read. My choices always come those books that receive four or five stars from the month prior. This past month I had several four star reviews and it’s hard to choose which one to feature. I believe I may have people vote on the Featured Book starting in the new year, but I’ll make a post about that if I decide to go that route.

For this month, I would like to feature Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver. I’m not sure why I have never read cozy mysteries, but I’ve found I really enjoy them. This one in particular is a great example of a cozy mystery and why they are so great to read. First of all, they seem to be fast and easy reads. Anyone who reads a lot can tell you that sometimes reading as much as we do, can really bog you down. I’ve read books that left me just feeling exhausted before. That’s why I think I will start finding more of these books to put in between books as a great pick me up.

The second great thing about these books is the characters. Unlike most mystery/crime novels, the leading characters are not police officers, detectives, or private investigators. They are just random people who find themselves trying to uncover who’s behind a murder. theft, etc. But more so than the main character, it’s the supporting characters that really shine in these kinds of books. This particular book has a great cast of side characters that really just make the book a fun read. Yes, they’re quirky and sometimes they get in the way, but they mean well and they add drama, gossip, humor and intrigue to the book. These books are just fun and there’s something that is relaxing about reading one.

You know, I’ve read a lot of mysteries in my lifetime. Most of the time the main character is a detective, FBI agent, or private investigator. But it is books like this, where it’s just an ordinary person looking into a mystery that seem to be some of the best reads. And that is what this is: a fun, interesting story about the quirky people in Redwood Cove and the mysterious death of one of their own.

For more insight in my thoughts about the book, you can read my full review here: Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver

So, if you are looking for a great cozy mystery to read, take a chance and check out this book. Please feel free to let me know what you think about this book!