This was such a fun fun read. I really enjoyed it. Jaymie is such a loveable character. I think the best part about this book was her relationship with her sister, Becca. I'm an older sister, and I teared up reading about the affection between the two sisters. Even though this is a part of a series, I never felt that way. There are some books which are a part of a series and even though they say its a standalone, it really isn't, you need to read other books for context. This one wasn't like that. It was quite complete in itself, and as a reader, I really appreciated that.

Now coming back to the story, I have to say, this mystery is slow burn. It takes a long time for the layers to be peeled. But the details and each layer peeling were very interesting. It didn't hamper or take anything away from the final reveal. And it's a cozy, so I get it, that the book isn't supposed to be very intense in the first place. That being said, I think the end was a little rushed. That end scene could have played out for a longer period of time.

I can't wait to read other books in this series to read more about Jaymie and her adventures.

Leave It to Cleaver is the sixth book in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series, but the first that I have read. This can definitely be read as a standalone.

While Jaymie is helping Becca clean out the old Paget house for liquidation after the death of the elderly woman living there, they discover the body of Delores Paget stuffed in a trunk in the basement. Delores was a one time friend of Becca’s who is believed to have left town at the age of 16 in 1984. Things get even more interesting when the body of a second missing teen who disappeared on the same day as Delores, is found in her car in the lake. Police are worried about trying to solve a two decades old murder. Even more interesting, the girls are found wearing the same handmade sweater. In an unusual twist, Chief Ledbetter actually asks Jaymie to help him investigate since she knows so many people in town who would have been friends with one or both of the missing girls.

The story goes back and forth between 1984 and the present. While in the past, you learn about various characters and what they were doing at the time. While all this is going on, there are also shower and wedding plans taking place. I really liked Jaymie. She is smart, caring, friendly and subtle. The other characters, Becca, her fiancee Jacob, girlfriends Heidi and Valetta all play an important role in the story as well as clues to solving the crime. They are a great group of friends and family living in the small town in Michigan. Victoria Hamilton has written an excellent mystery that will have you guessing until the big reveal. The misdirects were great. The reasons behind the murders were surprising and the perpetrator was not what I was expecting. Overall this is a very well written, well plotted and interesting cozy mystery that I would recommend.

Jaymie and Becca volunteer to clear out an old farm house so that it can be prepared for an estate sale. When they venture to the basement they find an old trunk with the skeleton which turns out to be the remains of an old high school friend of Becca's that disappeared 30 years ago. Two days later another "runaway" is found at the bottom of the lake and she disappeared at the same time.

Jaymie and Becca work to find a connection and determine who the murderer was all that time ago.

A very entertaining cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Leave it to Cleaver is book six in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery Series. I was so happy to see that the series has a new home and will continue on.
The writing, as always was top notch. The characters flowed beautifully with just enough newness to keep people that have read the series engaged and to allow new readers to really grasp a good feel for the characters. The plot was strong, full of intrigue and a solid mystery.

When vintage kitchen cookware and cookbook collector Jaymie Leighton agrees to help her sister clean out an old house when a neighbor passes away, she has no idea she’ll find much more than some vintage kitchenware! When the sisters open an old trunk they find in the basement, they discover a teenager girl’s body, and there’s no doubt it was a murder because the cleaver is still in the victim’s skull.

Just a few days later, a second young woman’s remains are discovered in the river, and pretty soon the clues show the murders are linked. Since both girls were classmates of Jaymie’s older sister when they disappeared, she’s soon drawn into figuring out what happened all those years ago.

Jaymie must sort through old high school rivalries and romances to figure out who is willing to kill today in order to cover up yesterday’s murders.

Vintage cookware and cookbook collector Jaymie Leighton helps her sister Becca clear out the house of a deceased older neighbour (Olga Paget). They are shocked when they open a vintage trunk in the basement and find the remains of a teenage girl with a cleaver buried in her skull. Delores Paget had vanished in November 1984, a supposed runaway. When the body of a second girl (Rhonda) is found in her car submerged in the river, many people believe both deaths are connected.

Police are at a loss as to how to proceed with the cold case murder investigations. Delores and Rhonda from different social and economic circles and do not seem to have much in common except having dated the same guy. The story is told in alternating scenes with flashbacks from different characters in 1984 and the present. Hints of teenaged rivalries and jealousies are well presented and there is a good list of possible motives and suspects.

Meanwhile, Jaymie and her fiancé Jakob are planning a double wedding with Becca, and the preparations are getting to her. Jaymie works at making the best of it with Becca and her sleuthing brings them closer together. This is another enjoyable book in the Vintage Kitchen mystery series.

I received this book for free from Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Leave it to Cleaver is the first book by Victoria Hamilton that I have read and I was so pleased that I found a new author that I love. Jaymie's adventure was filled with the perfect atmosphere of small town charm and the author seamlessly blended the past and present into the story creating a much fuller story. I enjoyed that there were so many potential suspects and that there were many surprises, twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end.

This is a series that I've read through the years and really enjoyed. This one doesn't disappoint with a lot of twists. Although I'm not usually a fan of 'traveling' back to 1984, Ms. Hamilton made this work. Great read to read about Jaymie's next adventures!

Victoria Hamilton does not disappoint. I wasn't familiar with this series -- only her antique cooking ones. What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon - wrapped up with Leave it to Cleaver! Highly recommended.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
When Jaymie and her sister become engaged, they decide to hold a double wedding. In some ways, it means twice the stress but they have good friends upon whom they can depend. Many of these friends were schoolmates of her sister who subsequently became Jaymie's friends as well. All is innocent until the two sisters are cleaning out the house of a dead neighbour and Jaymie discovers a body in a trunk in the basement with a meat cleaver in the head. It turns out to be someone the town had thought runaway in the '80's.
Then another body is dredged from the river holding another schoolmate who disappeared at the same time. She was also thought to be a runaway. Since neither died of natural causes and were classmates, the two deaths seem to be linked.
The plot goes back and forth from the time of the deaths to present day as the tragic story unwinds. One girl is the odd girl out and the other is miss popularity. How could their fates be entwined? When Jaymie learns more from her sister and her friends, she is determined to figure out what happened and who killed the girls. Her help is solicited by the local police chief so her snooping seems organic to the story.
Clearly with wedding planning, running several businesses and solving two murders, Jaymie is stretched thin and almost misses the key evidence that points towards the murderer. It is pretty tense when she is confronted by the villain. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing almost to the end
It was kind of neat reading a book set in parts of the world my family know well. Some of Jaymie's family live in London Ontario which is my home town. There is a tripod doggie who is rather sweet and a haughty cat who rules the roost, lots of interesting supporting characters who are not the usual run of the mill, and a good plot. It was a quick yet enjoyable read. I always like to find books that would be great holiday reading and this is one.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.

Leave it to Cleaver by author Victoria Hamilton is the 6th book in the charming Vintage Kitchen Mystery series, This book can read as a stand alone however I recommend the entire series as each book is exciting to read and very enjoyable. This is a five star rated book and one of my favorite cozies of 2017. The protagonist Jaime Leighton is smart, independent and as great at being a sleuth as she is a collector of vintage kitchen wares.
The Vintage Kitchen Mystery series is a delightful cozy series. This new release was one of the most exciting books in the series! The author has a masterful style of writing that is fast paced, exciting and pleasing to this avid mystery fan.
In this addition our protagonist Jamie finds a body of a missing teen when she is cleaning out a estate with her sister. She then is on the case with the approval of her fiance, the police chief. When she finds a second body her investigation must turn back to the past to solve both cold cases and the excitement builds for this sleuth.
I loved the perfectly suspenseful well crafted blend of two different eras in this book, The author takes Jamie on a journey to the past to solve both murders. That blend of two different eras is what makes this book stand out. While investigating Jaime finds out deep family secrets about her sister and the answers to present day questions.
In addition to the murder Jaime and her sister Becca are planning dual weddings The wedding portion of the book is done tastefully and not to excess. Its the perfect blend of mystery and weddings of these beloved characters. A terrific addition of the series. I highly recommend Leave It To Cleaver for your mystery reading enjoyment.

So glad to see this series continuing, love Becca and Jamie and the nostalgic feel of the books (reminds me of my grandparent's and other houses). Definitely too me longer to figure out who did it bouncing between suspects. Very well done with a cold case and bouncing between time periods. Just wish I could have seen Jamie's dress a the end!

Leave it to Cleaver by author Victoria Hamilton is the 6th book in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series, but the first that I've read - and it's great! Very fast-paced and suspenseful, and the transition between present day and 30 years in the past (and back again) is smooth. It was hard to put down once I started reading it. Nice relationship between the sisters (Jaymie and Becca), and the mystery is very well-written. I'm going to go back to the beginning of this series so that I can get some background, and I really did enjoy this installment, but it should be noted that the book can be read as stand-alone. Nicely done, Ms. Hamilton! :Highly recommend! A+

This is the first book I've read in this series, and I found it interesting. Even though I had no idea who the characters were, I has no problem following the story. The jumping back and forth through time with different viewpoints was a bit jarring at first, but in the end it really added to the story and helped to show the past events rather than just tell them. I did find the mystery to be a little too easy to solve.

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

LEAVE IT TO CLEAVER by Victoria Hamilton
The Sixth Vintage Kitchen Mystery

Wedding bells are in the air, but it is alarm bells that ring out amidst all the preparations. First Jaymie Leighton and her sister, Becca, find a body in a house they're cleaning and then another is found submerged in a car in the river. The bodies are those of two girls, classmates of Becca, who disappeared on the same day in 1984. At the time it was thought that the girls had each run away, but now it looks like murder. Prompted by the chief of police, as well as her own curiosity, Jaymie starts investigating these cold cases. Although she was a baby at the time, her sister and friends were contemporaries of the girls. Will any of them be able to share some insight into what happened? Is the killer long dead? Or is the killer still in their midst?

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. This saying fits LEAVE IT TO CLEAVER perfectly. An old missing persons case (two actually) leads to a new investigation. There are borrowed diaries and the blue of the water! To top it all off, Jaymie's investigating all works around her and her sister's dual wedding!

While LEAVE IT TO CLEAVER is the "wedding book", it isn't overly sentimental. The relationships, both between Jaymie and Jakob and Becca and Kevin, aren't gushingly romantic and sugary sweet. These are adult relationships and are more real and honest, therefore more meaningful.

Victoria Hamilton delves into Becca's past in this latest installment of the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series. The story switches from the present to the days before the girls went missing in 1984. We get a better idea of Becca's teen years and see why she mothers Jaymie so much. We also get to see the deepening relationship between Jaymie and Jakob as well as with his daughter, Jocie. Indeed the whole story revolves around the differing relationships between parents and children as well as those between siblings.

LEAVE IT TO CLEAVER is a great addition to the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries. A well plotted mystery through two time periods provides great backstory and develops the characters even more.

Recipes Included.

Cold case. Warm Hearts. Lots of heartwarming parts in this cozy mystery. I did shed a tear or two.

“Leave it to Cleaver” earns 5/5 Vintage Pastel Pyrex Bowls!

I am new to Victoria Hamilton’s Vintage Kitchen Mystery series, so making this sixth book my introduction was perfect: High-school memories heralding murder? Who knew a quiet day helping out could throw everyone into a cold, cold case? Although there are references to relationships and previous mysteries, there were no spoilers. I didn’t feel left out of the back story and character connections having not read the other five books, although this book has left me eager to do so. Weaving a series of flashbacks along with the contemporary events, the story kept me engaged as it illustrated teenage angst, uncovered secrets, and provided a new look into motives, opportunity and means. I found Victoria’s characters well developed and relationships entertaining to follow. My favorite is Jaymie, of course, along with exploring the connection with her sister that many can identify with the older/younger sibling dynamic. The entertaining details surrounding Jaymie’s “Vintage Eats” column in the Wolverhampton Howler, vintage kitchenware, the wedding plans with wonderful descriptions of vintage wedding dresses and cakes play out in the background along with an easy to follow recipe mentioned in the book from Jaymie’s grandmother’s 1950s recipe book: Salmon Loaf with Mushroom Cream Sauce. I highly recommend this book!

Leave It To Cleaver by Victoria Hamilton is the sixth book in A Vintage Kitchen Mystery series. Jaymie Leighton is thrilled when Jakob Muller proposes to her on Valentine’s Day. Jaymie loves Jakob and adores his little girl, Jocie. Jaymie and her sister, Becca have agreed to clear out the Paget house for Lesley Mackenzie. The perk is getting first pick of the items. They go to the basement where they come across an old truck. Upon opening it, they discover a body clad in a red sweater with a cleaver in the skull (can you imagine what the yarn must be made of to not disintegrate). Back in 1984, Becca knew Delores Paget who owned an identical sweater. Delores supposedly left town that year and was never heard from again (now we know why). A few days later, Jaymie watches while divers pull up old Ford Falcon with a body inside wearing a red sweater identical to the other victim (that is some yarn). The victims are identified as Delores Paget and Rhonda Welch. Becca knew both victims in high school and they disappeared from town at the same time. The common link between the two girls is Brock Nibley. Chief Ledbetter asks Jaymie to listen for any details that will help him with this case. Jaymie considers this the green light to start nosing around and asking questions. The killer is less than thrilled with Jaymie’s inquiries and will not hesitate to strike again. Will Jaymie make it to her own wedding?

Leave It To Cleaver contains good writing and the story has a nice flow/pace. Jaymie Leighton is a great character with her big heart and love of vintage items. The mystery was complicated (thank you Victoria Hamilton) and fun to solve. The best part of a cozy mystery is following the clues and see if I correctly guessed the killer’s identity. I liked finding out more about Becca and what happened after Jaymie was born. The story goes from present day back to 1984 (and then back again). I am not a fan of this technique, but the author pulled it off (it was not confusing or overdone). I give Leave It To Cleaver 4.5 out of 5 stars. The only part of the story I did not like was Heidi. She is planning the wedding, and I found her maddening. Leave It To Cleaver is the sixth book in the series, but it can be read alone. The ending will leave readers with smiles on their faces.

I am so glad that this cozy series has been saved by another publisher. I first picked up this series because of the vintage kitchen theme. This mystery was very complex. I enjoyed Hamilton's amazing writing and the style with which she switches from the present to the past with ease. I enjoyed the ending very much. I think this is the best book of the series so far and look forward to the next one. I also will be making the yummy recipe in the back of the book.