Member Reviews

I really enjoyed this book. Of course, Nick the cat is the star of the show. I feel Nora's investigating a complete stranger's demise makes a little sense given she is a PI and an ex-crime reporter. Not to mention the circumstances surrounding the body. I thought plotting the story from a cold case was a clever twist as well, something I didn't see coming.

An enjoyable cozy for fans of detective fiction. My thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a cute, Halloween read. This cozy mystery had all the elements that people look for…vampires, coffins, dead bodies, mystery, black cats… It’s not a deep read, but it was certainly enjoyable. Thank you to NetGallery for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Nora Charles has been hired to cater for a Halloween-themed fundraising event at the abandoned and allegedly cursed Waincroft Manor. When Nora and other members of the decorating committee arrive at Waincroft Manor for an initial walkthrough, they discover a distraught teenage boy and a dead body in a casket. The dead man has two bite marks in his neck and has been drained of his blood. The man’s death leads the locals to believe the old tales of the alleged vampire who used to live at Waincroft—and that perhaps the vampire has returned to his former home. Determined to kill the vampire rumors and save the fundraiser, Nora—and her feline sleuthing companion, Nick—set out to uncover a very human killer. An old feud, another body, and a ghost hunting crew only complicate Nora’s mission.

BELL, BOOK AND CORPSES is the first Nick and Nora Mystery that I’ve read, so I did feel like I was missing out on some crucial background information on Nick’s and Nora’s previous investigations. Is was the Halloween theme that compelled me to check it out this book. The vampire legend and curses surrounding Waincroft Manor were fun. The motive behind the murder(s) was also very interesting. There were plenty of red herrings and suspects to keep me guessing. I’ll admit that Nick and his Scrabble tiles made me roll my eyes…But who doesn’t love a furry investigating partner even if they’ve got some unbelievable abilities.

Was this review helpful?

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed meeting up with Nick and Nora for another interesting mystery. It kept me guessing. I also like the town. However, I'm very vested in finding out what is going on with Nick #1.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The seventh book in this series welcomes back human, Nora Charles, and her feline companion, Nick. It can be read as a standalone, but the series is fun, so I recommend the whole thing. In this book, Nora accompanies a good friend to assess the local abandoned mansion that will be used for a charity fundraiser. Things definitely don’t go as planned when she and Nick, the unexpected car stowaway, find a dead body, in a coffin, with two holes in his neck. What the heck? Nora’s sleuthing skills, coupled with Nick’s ability to use letter tiles to help her solve mysteries, are really put to the test in this one as they try to both save the charity fundraiser and find out whodunit. Events take them back in time and into the present day, sorting facts from fiction and local legends about the mansion’s owners.

Was this review helpful?

Princess Fuzzypants here: For obvious reasons, this is my second favourite of Toni’s series. Long before Purrday and I met up, there was Nick and Nora. These two are as entertaining as the originals in the Thin Man movies. Sandwich maker extraordinaire Nora has a side gig of being a PI but she could not do it without Nick’s inimitable talent with clues and scrabble tiles.

They discover a corpse in a coffin in a deserted mansion. There is a legend of a vampire and a curse so when they realize the body has been drained of blood, rumours start to fly. Nora is not convinced and when Samms identifies the deceased, they both suspect, there is something far more sinister than vampires behind this death. When a second murder occurs, she becomes convinced that it is all tied up in a bank heist where the money was never found. Through good investigative skills and spot on connecting of the dots, she has a good idea where she can find the answers everyone seeks.

The only trouble is there are a number of hurdles she is going to have to get over if she is going to reveal the killer and still live. Nick, of course, and someone else, comes to the rescue and the villains are brought to justice. It is a good mystery but as always Nick steals the show. He is just such a great character. May there be many more adventures for him and Nora in the future. Five purrs and two paws up.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun, entertaining read. I enjoyed Nora the amateur sleuth and her sidekick. I love the role she played in solving the mystery/murder and how the story was all about her sleuthing. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. The book is easy to read and get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Even after deciding to read this book, I was unsure. The title is a bit curious as is the description and learning Nick is a cat (or is he) really sold me. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the book a lot. Nora was an absolutely wonderful character full of spirit and curiosity and stubbornness and perhaps lacking a bit in self preservation. Someone was guiding her through the mystery full of interesting characters from the town matriarch to the ghost hunters. I was a skosh unsure of the two men in her life but liked Samms. While he wasn't fully supportive of her he did share more with her than he should have to lead her to solve the mystery.
The best part of the story was with the exception of the dead body, no one knew exactly what they were chasing. Figuring out what the mystery was as interesting as solving it. Nora did a superb job of chasing clue, some cryptic, to find the source of the murder. Nick intrigued me with his Scrabble case solving prowess. The cat of a PI passed onto to Nora, Nick seemed to be so much more than simply a cat. If this book was defined as a paranormal series, I might start thinking the cat wast he PI. Regardless of who or what he is, Nick was by far the most fun character in the story. This might have been my first book by this author but I am curious as to how Nora got her start and how she paired up with Nick.
I would recommend this book. Obviously starting with book 1 is not required but reading one book in this series will make you want to read more.
Thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

recipes, relationships, relationship-issues, friendship, families, private-investigators, local-law-enforcement, FBI, situational-humor, verbal-humor, small-town, small-business, cozy-mystery, cat, scrabble-game, sandwich-shop, murder-investigation, friction, false-information, frenemy, family-business, sisters, publicity, punny, sketch-artist, secrets, lies, local-legends, local-gossip*****

The coffin in Waincroft Manor held a dead man with two puncture wounds in his neck. Not a good way to start the day before a fundraiser to be held there the next day. Nora Charles is a former journalist who returned home to run the family sandwich shop and is working on getting her Private Investigator's license. Nick is a pudgy Tuxedo cat who spells out clues with scrabble tiles and is a major help in the investigation. I enjoy the stories, puns, laughs, and easy recipes.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
#NickAndNoraMysteriesBk7

Was this review helpful?

In Cruz, California, Halloween means parties, spooky decorations, and fundraisers. Coffee shop owner Nora Charles is looking forward to all three at the very creepy looking Waincroft Manor, which has the reputation of being both cursed and linked to witchcraft! A trip, with best friend, Chantal, decorating committee head, Joannie, and, of course, her tuxedo cat, Nick, to check the mansion out before the big day ends in chaos when not only is a coffin discovered but, it's occupied!

With the police investigating the unexpected death, and rumours flying around most of Cruz, Nora knows it's up to her to find out what really happened. Of course having a feline partner with more abilities than meets the eye definitely helps, especially as he seems to understand just what she's thinking! As the reasons for the killing becomes clearer Nora knows time isn't on her side, especially as those responsible are getting dangerously desperate!

This is book seven in this fun series which seems just right for a Halloween installment. You do have to suspend reality for a while as Nick, Nora’s inherited cat, spells out clues with Scrabble tiles and always seems to be in the right place at the right time! Once you've got past that then you are in for a treat; the story is fast moving, there's a bit of romance, and the main protagonists are both likeable and a little quirky.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Beyond the Page, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much, and look forward to book eight.

Was this review helpful?

This was one of the best murder mysteries I have read to date! I'm such a sucker for good puns and animal themed book titles. While the murderer was pretty obvious throughout the book, I did like the clues and details that led to unraveling the how's and why's of the murder. The story was interesting enough to want to know more every chapter. Even as I had a hunch who did it, I needed to know for certain who committed the crime and why they did it.

This was my first Nick and Nora mystery and Nick was such a fun character! I loved how he spelt things with the scrabble tiles. I like how he provided little clues throughout the time Nora was trying to solve the mystery. He seems like such a clever and fun crime solving partner. I can't wait to read more books in this series! The recipe at the end of the book was also such a nice extra bit.

Thank you Netgalley, T. C. LoTempio, and Beyond the Page Publishing for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review! (I will leave a review on Goodreads when the title is listed).

Was this review helpful?

#BellBookandCorpses #NetGalley is another fabulous addition to this series.
Nick and Nora are quickly becoming my favorite duo of investigators, especially Nick!
In this book, Nora is helping to prepare for the Halloween gala at the famous Waincroft manor, whose reputation as the haunted mansion has everyone on alert.
When Nora and her cat Nick visit the manor, they discover a coffin, with a dead body inside!
Who would do such a morbid thing is what everyone is asking, but it's up to the police, with Nick and Nora's help, to solve this mystery.

I really loved this book and I'm happy to recommend it to other readers.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?