Member Reviews
Thank you NetGalley, Libby Klein and Kensington Books for the ARC of Beauty Expos Are Murder. This is my personal review.
Poppy McAllister is a very interesting person. She is the owner of Poppy’s Bed and Breakfast, and she is always busy. This year there is a huge Beauty Expo in town, and she is working there selling her paleo muffins and keto cookies. She is sharing a booth with Gia and things should go smoothly but that is never the case for Poppy.
When the main attraction of the event turns up murdered Poppy knows she has to help solve the mystery.
The twists and turns in the book kept me reading this fun cozy and guessing who the culprit was.
This is book 6 in the series and it will keep you guessing and turning the pages to find out what happens.
Poppy sure has her hands full in this latest laugh out loud and very satisfying mystery. Between the B&B she runs with her quirky Aunt Ginny and baking specialty treats for Gia and her to sell at the upcoming beauty expo, that is a lot to juggle. But things soon get way more complicated when Gia's (hopefully soon to be ex-wife) shows up and says she wants them to be a family and then a killer strikes the expo. With her heart in tatters, still having to run the booth at the expo with Gia, Poppy soldiers on. Solving the murder of plastic surgeon attending the expo is one form of distraction.
This series is one I depend upon to be a great stress reliever and this entry may be the best one so far. As soon as the next one is published I might just be saying the same thing about that one. Each one has fairly placed clues, lots of twists and turns and great characters. More please.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
While I have enjoyed previous installments in this series, this one really didn’t grab me. DNF at 10%. I just wasn’t interested in the storyline at all.
Reading Beauty Expos are Murder was a lovely treat!
A thrilling roller-coaster ride from start to finish I was so pleased to be back with Poppy McAllister, a Bed & Breakfast owner - the Butterfly House Bed & Breakfast - in Cape May, New Jersey, and a baker of glorious gluten-free goodies. It's Easter and she's leaving everything at Butterfly House for her Aunt Ginny to manage while she goes to Jersey Shore Health and Beauty Expo to sell her paleo muffins and keto cookies. A murder at the Expo adds another layer of suspense to Poppy's already extremely chaotic life.
Forty-odd-year-old, pastry chef, Poppy, the protagonist, lives with her elderly Aunt Ginny and Figaro, her mischievous cat. Poppy and many of the other characters are very funny and likeable, and as someone who has read many cozies, Poppy’s Aunt Ginny has become one of my favourite cozy characters. She and her geriatric pals provided plenty of humour in this book and I love her zaniness, zest for life and mischievous antics.
The opening chapters drew me into the story and captured my attention immediately. There was never a dull moment with such a lot going on. The mystery itself was well thought out with plenty of twists and turns as I puzzled over the clues to discover the perpetrator. There was certainly plenty to keep the reader interested. The book had a natural, steady pace, and I was kept guessing until the reveal. Delightful and entertaining, Beauty Expos are Murder is a highly recommended, quick, light read for all cozy mystery fans.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Beauty Expos are Murder by Libby Klein is the 6th book in A Poppy McAllister Mystery series, and another great addition. I rated this book five stars because it made me laugh out loud the whole book. Nothing lifts my spirit more than a funny cozy mystery. Ms. Klein I love your sense of humor. Poppy and Gia are sharing a booth at the Health and Beauty Expo, but with his wife hanging around, Poppy is upset. Sawyer, Poppy's best friend is acting weird. Aunt Ginny and her friends are causing trouble at the Expo, and there are murders to be solved. Not only is this book funny, it a great mystery too. There are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. If you love funny cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book/series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Oh. My. Goodness. This is such a fun, entertaining mystery, chock full of humor with a few crazy antics thrown in for good measure. I had a hard time putting this book down, I was so intrigued with trying to solve the mystery. I love the characters: Poppy, Aunt Ginny, Tim, and Gia. I'd love to visit their seashore town and B&B. I enjoy trying to puzzle out the whodunnit before it's revealed in the story. I was nearly successful this time, but maybe it doesn't count when I suspect nearly everyone at some point in the story.
If you love the previous books in this series, you're sure to love Beauty Expos Are Murder! And if you haven't read any of the Poppy McAllister Mysteries yet, what are you waiting for? If you like a good mystery with a great cast of characters, that doesn't leave you hanging in spots wondering what will happen next, this should be your next read (or start at the beginning of the series, if that's your thing)!
I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
If you're reading in order, you'll recall where book five left off the minute you start reading this book. Poppy had made her decision on guys but as per her usual luck, things went a little sideways, or maybe a lot that way. I don't want to give away any good surprises, but do yourself a favor and read these books in order if you want the most enjoyment from them.
Poppy found herself baking her usual treats and running Gia's booth for the coffee shop at the health and beauty expo at the convention center. But her life wouldn't be complete without a murder or two and a couple of nemeses poking their heads into her business, right? One of the said nemeses needed Poppy's investigation help. Officer Amber actually asked her to help save her badge, and Joanne Junk made an appearance like she usually does partly to help Amber and partly as hired help.
There were a lot of things going on in the book, but what seemed to be separate murders were actually connected. Fig got his own funny little side story as did Aunt Ginny who was getting somewhat addicted to gummy bears laced with something illegal that miraculously made her drive better lol. Victory surprisingly still had her job there, and even Smitty made an appearance at his Three Stooges best nyuking it up with little Henry. Sawyer had been acting a little mysterious throughout the book, but eventually she revealed a good reason. She did always come through when her bestie needed her though.
As hanging (to me, anyway) as the last book ended, this one actually had a very nice and satisfying end to it. After the murders were figured out, there was one more issue, and it was awesome how it played out. That's all I'm gonna say and hope I haven't said too much! This book publishes next Tuesday, June 29, 2021. I already can't wait for the next one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
This is such a fun series and I couldn't wait until the next edition in Poppy's story was available to us...ok, it hasn't been released yet but many thanks to the author for sharing an early copy so I didn't have to wait too long.
As we discovered at the end of the previous book, Wine Tastings are Murder, Poppy decided that Gia was the man for her over Tim. However, she was in for quite a surprise when she learned that Gia was still married and his wife has shown up to try and reconcile. This definitely creates tension between Gia and Poppy and we see that throughout the whole book and both parties aren't 100% honest with each other and trust has to be earned. Thankfully, the situation is resolved in this book and doesn't drag onto the next installment. You will have to read the book to find out how this comes to fruition and Gia and Poppy are able to truly move forward in their relationship.
To top things off, Gia and Poppy are running a booth within the Beauty Expo that has come to town featuring Poppy's gluten-free items and Gia's coffee beverages. However, even that does not run smoothly for him with Tim nursing hurt feelings over losing Poppy to Gia and Gigi trying to cast aspersions on Poppy's Paleo items. Gigi is not a likable character and has never been but she seems to ratch it up a level in this book.
There is of course a murder or two to be solved. There are some twists I didn't expect and just when you think you know who the bad guy is, a new clue or scenario appears which caused me to rethink my original thoughts. I didn't figure out the killer and this person wasn't on my radar. There are quite a few possibilities and all with legitimate reasons but not enough to kill anyone. To top it all off, Poppy works with a long-time rival, Amber, to help solve the crime. Amber is a police detective and has always been a thorn in Poppy's side. The animosity between the two can be seen throughout the book, but Poppy rises above it to help her out of a jam. Will this change their "friendship?"
And then there is a side story regarding Poppy's best friend, Sawyer. I wondered if she was getting into trouble but the truth came out and it was like a weight was lifted from Sawyer's shoulders because she didn't have to mislead Poppy. It is an awwww type of situation so don't worry about it causing any rifts.
The snark is still there and Joanne is quite the character with a biting wit. Of course Aunt Ginny is still causing trouble and even Figaro (the cat) has a love interest in Portia, a show cat.
This is such a fun series and I recommend starting at the beginning to truly follow the personal stories of Poppy, Tim, Gia, Ginny, and the biddies.
We give this book 5 paws up.
Murder, awkward relationships, love, humor, a competitive beauty expo, possible mob and a ending I never imagined all wrapped up in one captivating story. I loved this book.
It is book 6 in A Poppy McAllister Mystery series. It is a great book on its own but I think it meant more because I have read book 5. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Easter weekend on the Jersey Shore is hopping. Poppy's Bed and Breakfast is busier than ever, but she needs to leave things in the hopefully capable hands of Aunt Ginny--and paws of Figaro the black smoke Persian. She's selling her paleo muffins and keto cookies at the Health and Beauty Expo in Cape May's Convention Hall. Normally sharing a booth with the love of her life would be a treat, but she's recently discovered secrets that throw her new romance into chaos.
But more secrets are about to be exposed at the expo. In his keynote address, prominent cosmetic surgeon Dr. Lance Rubin reveals his breakthrough anti-aging technology. Unfortunately, someone has one-upped him with a truly foolproof anti-aging formula: murder. With the plastic surgeon dead under his own UV mask, and bedlam reigning in the hall and back at the B&B, Poppy needs to follow a twisted trail marked by glowing footprints to unmask a killer... (
Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 6th book in the Poppy McAllister cozy mystery series.
I have read all the books in the series and I thought that this book was a great continuation of the series and I really enjoyed it.
It took place in a great location, it had characters I liked, it made me laugh alot and it had a good murder mystery.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves reading cozy mysteries.
I always look forward to a new book in the Poppy McAllister cozy mystery series & I hope Libby Klein decides to keep writing more books in this series.
Libby Klein did it again and delivers a highly entertaining and engrossing story.
The book is longer than the average cozy mystery but it was a fast read and I couldn't put it down.
I had a lot of fun, rooted for Poppy, enjoyed Figaro and Aunt Ginny antics.
The mystery is solid, no plot hole, and all the subplot are solved. It kept me guessing and I liked the solution.
Can't wait for the next installment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Another amusing adventure with Poppy. Many surprises and the mystery kept me guessing. Cat antics and Aunt antics add to the fun. A delightful addition to a charming series. The difficulties in the romance department also provided some mystery.
This was my first cozy book by Libby Klein and I am hugely grateful to Kensington and NetGalley for my e-ARC. Beauty expos are murder tells the story of Poppy McCallister who is in love with a distinguished gentleman. She however discovers the gentleman has been keeping a secret from her *sighh* and so instead of wallowing she has to focus on the upcoming beauty expo. Something does happen that result with a dead body and so Poppy, her aunt Ginny and Sawyer try to solve the case. I absolutely enjoyed this story which also has delicious recipes for us to enjoy. Highly recommend!!
Another Poppy story that literally has me snickering and laughing our loud at times. Great story, fantastic ending. Almost makes up for the ending to the previous book....:)
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Beauty Expos Are Murder was my introduction to the Poppy McAllister series, and I absolutely loved this book. Since I had not read the previous books in the series, I have to admit that it was not always easy to keep track of who's who, but I sorted it out fast enough to truly enjoy the book. From the very first page, the author managed to grab my attention with a major element of the story, and I wanted to know how everything would be resolved. The storyline is very interesting and well built, and both the murder and Poppy's personal life are well developed. What I really liked is that some tiny elements which seem insignificant turn out to be important in order to piece everything together. In all, a wonderful cozy mystery, not to be missed.
Poppy McAllister finally has it all! A great business, an adorable (yet devious) cat, a fun-loving aunt, another woman's husband...wait, what???
Poppy has her work cut out for her and this time it has nothing to do with gluten free pastries! With Gia's estranged wife back in town and a killer running loose amidst a beauty expo, Poppy and the gang will take you for a twisty ride that you won't want to see end.
I also have to add, even though some people skip the recipes in cozy mysteries, you won't want to miss these. No Poppy McAllister book would be complete without some delectable recipes that you will definitely want to try out.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for this delightful ARC.
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A great read. I loved the book. The plot was very well written and I cannot wait for another book. This was from a new to me and great author. I really enjoyed the book.
So Poppy's taking time from the B&B to sell paleo muffins and other treats at the beauty expo, thinking time spent with her romantic interest Gia is going to be great. Not so much. Surprise- Gia is married and his wife shows up. If that isn't enough, Dr Lance Rubin, the headliner, is murdered in a unique way. Of course, Poppy's going to investigate with the half hearted endorsement of her old high school frenemy Amber, now a police officer. Cozy readers know that there are lots of people who were angry with Rubin so watch for red herrings. I've been a fan of this series because of Poppy and her friends (I:m a little tired of Figaro the cat) and think this will be fine a a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't miss the recipes!
drama, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, family, family-dynamics, friendship, friction, baker, situational-humor, verbal-humor, small-business, small-town, murder-investigation, law-enforcement*****
How have I missed this series?! Although I just dropped into a series in progress I didn't get lost, I only want to read the others to have more good laughs.
About those murders, I think that the wrong miscreant got murdered! I think Gia's alleged witchly wife should have been slapped and then flushed! Instead there was one cop snitch and one beauty scam artist. The sleuthing was good, but the food was mouth watering! Fantastic recipes at the end!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you.