A thoroughly enjoyable cozy, mystery. I love the characters that Kitt Crowe has created for this mystery series. Lexi, Teri, Cat, Dash, Jimmy, Elvis, Mt. Bachelor (ha ha) and everyone living in Confection ,Oregon.
I was able to guess who the murderer was but Kitt threw enough distractions and red herrings in there that I second guessed myself a couple of times.

Looking forward to reading book #3 in this Sweet Fiction Bookshop series.

This series just isn't for me. I enjoyed the setting; it's very cozy and the townspeople are interesting. But that's where my enjoyment ends. I don't like Lexi; I find her annoying and childish. Her friends are the same. And in this particular book, with all the women hitting and slapping men, I felt like I was reading about an episode of Jerry Springer. The mystery itself was slow, with Lexi, again, accusing everyone with even less flimsy evidence than the police department had. There was one funny scene, the big reveal, but that was it. I will not continue with this series.

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Lexi and her devoted and beloved dog Cookie were deep in customers in her bookshop - Sweet Fiction - in Confection, Oregon when Lexi heard of a woman dying of a heart attack. Lexi couldn't help her suspicious nature, but Marilyn's death by natural causes didn't sit right. And then another woman died - definitely murder - and was connected through the real estate office they both worked in. Lexi's antennae were on high alert. She got her book club people together - the Macaroons - to discuss the two cases, using a white board to list their suspects.

Detective Chad Berg was on the case and kept telling Lexi to butt out. But, although she agreed to do so, she lied. When Lexi's best friend Teri's brother was arrested for murder, they were devastated, knowing they needed to work harder, now to prove his innocence. With the book club questioning everyone they could they were slowly coming up with interesting information. But could they discover who the murderer was? And would Cookie save the day?

A Poisonous Page is the 2nd in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop series by Kitt Crowe and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Laugh out loud funny in places, Cookie was the star of the show. Great characters - Teri, Cat, Roger, Dash, and of course Chad and Lexi - made this cosy mystery a fun and entertaining read. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

A Poisonous Page is book #2 in the A Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mystery series by Kitt Crowe.

Lexi manages her parents’ bookstore in Confection, Oregon. A member of the chamber of commerce dies and then another ones dies a few days later and Lexi’s friend is arrested. Lexi and her book club start investigating to save her friend.

I thought this started a little slow, but it quickly picked up speed and I couldn’t put it down. I found Lexi and her friends an$ family to be likable characters. Lexi’s interactions with Mt. Bachelor had me laughing out loud at times. It was an interesting mystery trying to determine if the deaths were related and what th3 motive was. I didn’t guess who the guilty party was. I look forward to the next book!

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

It’s festival season in Connection, Oregon. Beautiful summer days bring lots of tourists, making business boom. Lexi Jones is the manager of the Sweet Fiction Bookshop. In a time when she should be overwhelmed with business at the shop she finds her attention drawn into another direction. One member of the community suddenly dies of a heart attack and then just a week later another member of the Chamber of Commerce also dies. Both are cited as dying of natural causes but is that really the case. When a friend is deemed the prime suspect of murder, Lexi with her trusted companion Cookie in tow she is determined to figure out the truth

A Poisonous Page is a very entertaining read. I really enjoyed the mystery behind this one. The mystery was thought-provoking and interesting. Lexi and her doggy companion Cookie, have an Amazing group of friends that’s so add to the story. Lexi has a strained relationship with Detective Burg. If this was a romance title would be calling it sexual tension. I love the interaction between the two of them. Their banter is top notch. I can’t wait to see what becomes of the two of them.

I have been fortunate enough to read both books in the series. Two books in and we are just getting better. A Poisonous Page is a fantastic story in a wonderful addition to what I hope will be a very long running series. These characters can make you laugh, entertain you and give you an impressive mystery.

A Poisonous Page (Sweet Fiction Bookshop 2)
Kit Crowe

I was highly impressed with Ms. Crowe’s first book in the series Digging Up Trouble, released last year.
I find myself becoming a fan in short order! A Poisonous Page reunites us with our intrepid writer, investigator, bookshop manager, and all-around small-town girl.

Welcome back to Confection, Oregon! Friends Cat, Terri, and Lexi are all best friends working living, and in the case of Cat and Terri loving in the thriving tourist town of Confection.

Behind the beautiful flowers, secrets are thriving. After two recent deaths one involving Terri’s brother Dash. Lexi and her friends set out to investigate!

This is a wonderful mystery with only a hint of romance. It’s so quick you would be forgiven for not noticing it. Personally, I love the mystery-forward way the author has chosen to write. I also like how Lexi turns people into book characters so often, most especially Detective Berg.

Recurring Characters
Det. Chad Berg
Cat works with Lexi at Sweet Fiction.
Terri da office, Dash’s “sister”
Cookie Jones Love-able town trouble maker, collie-pit mix
Lexi Jones returned home town girl, former big-city editor
Macaroon’s book club detective group

5*****

I enjoyed this book. I have not read the first book in the series. This is a standalone story and I did not feel lost while reading it. I enjoyed the characters and their interaction. It was offered on Netgalley and I was told it was similar to Jenn McKinnley and Joanne Fluke’s stories. The main character and amateur sleuth is Lexi Jones, who works as the manager of her parent's book store, Sweet Fiction.

Her friend Dash is the prime suspect in the death of a local realtor. She has an cantankerous relationship with the local detective but things are beginning to thaw.

I can’t wait for the next installment.

I was given an advanced copy and am not required to provide a positive review.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Poisonous Page (Sweet Fiction Bookshop # 2) by Kitt Crowe from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…an intriguing, fun, cozy mystery replete with a cleverly crafted complex plot, an abundance of red herrings…

In A Poisonous Page, the second entry in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop mystery we pick up with Lexi after recovering from the events of Book One, Digging Up Trouble.

Lexi, the manager of the Sweet Fiction Bookshop, gave up a prestigious editing job in Seattle for her hometown of Confection Oregon. Although she had a successful career in the big city, she missed her small hometown, her family and her best friends Teri, Teri’s brother Dash and Cat. Since her return Lexi has managed to reconnect, train her wayward pup Cookie, and has earned quite a bit of fame after her and her book club aka ‘the Macaroons’ solved a murder months earlier. Recovered and a little bored Lexi is craving excitement and when Marilyn Freeman, a prominent middle aged real estate agent dies unexpectedly Lexi is curious. When the autopsy rules the victim died of natural causes, Lexi is not convinced but she cannot get anyone to agree with her especially not “Iceberg” or Detective Berg who has become her nemesis. After Marylin’s co-worker Rachel is found murdered in the back yard of Dash’s home, and all evidence points to him, he is arrested, and Lexi realizes it is up to her and the Macaroons to get to the bottom of things.

If you are looking for an intriguing, fun, cozy mystery with a cleverly crafted complex plot, an abundance of red herrings, a touch of romance and a quirky cast of fun characters this is for you. Although I felt the first book dragged a bit, the author made up for it in her second outing in the series, I highly recommend.

The second book in the series and I think I will be throughly enjoying this series if the author Kitt Crowe continues to come up with good mystery plotlines filled with equal dosage of fun, sass, wit, humour and danger. Cookie, Lexi Jones's adorable and clever dog is the star once again but it looks like she will be having competition soon in the form of two kittens whom Detective Berg (a likely romantic interest for Lexi after their not so friendly start in book 1) decides to foster. The mystery is once again a good one and all the characters' arcs are developing and moving forward nicely. It is rare for me to find a book where I don't dislike any character and this series is full of entertaining ones with their own unique quirks. Very keen to know more about Detective Berg's past and I feel there is something very special about Cookie that still needs to come to light. I love everything about the town of Confection from the way it is described to its delectable sounding buildings, monuments, roads, businesses, etc.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Kitt Crowe for the e-Arc of the book.

The book publishes today!

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

It'd been a year since I read the first in this series, but it didn't take long to catch up with all the hilarious antics and snarky comments/zingers these characters exchange on a regular basis. I love the author's sense of humor, and that sweet Cookie dog! OMG I just wanted to hug her like crazy. Chad even sorta made friends with her by letting her be involved in a kids' police safety event.

Boy this was one involved mystery! It was sometimes hard to keep track of who was with what person and when, but I got the general idea. I really didn't zero in on one specific person but holy cow, at the end I was telling Lexi NOT to go somewhere! I'm totally Team Chad for her and hopefully she'll realize he's not really the jerk she thinks he is. Sometimes Lexi herself could be a real jerk to him too, so I felt bad for the guy. Cat and Teri crack me up wanting all the crazy details as every good bestie would, lol. And sweet Abe's a heck of a lot nice neighbor to Lexi than his grumpy dad who got offed in the first book.

I loved that the whole book club got involved trying to solve the case and it was too funny how they hurried to hide their murder board whenever Chad came around. That showdown was wild, hilarious and super tense! All was explained in the end though, and now I'm eager to see what all these fun and crazy characters find themselves involved in by the time the next book comes out!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

A fun continuation of the series! I really like this FMC, she is clever and I love her zany life of food, books and pets. The mystery was good, cozy mysteries are so much fun. If you love Jenn McKinley like I do you will love this series too!

A Poisonous Page is the second book in the A Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mystery series by Kitt Crowe.

This visit was another enjoyable one to Confection, Oregon…well, except for a couple of murders. First, Marilyn Freeman, a successful real estate agent and chair of the Chamber of Commerce, is found dead in her home. The police ruled that she died from a heart attack. Then an older woman dies, and Lexi and her book club, The Macaroons, begin to wonder if there is a serial killer on the loose. But this one is ruled death by natural causes as she had a bad heart. Then the body of a young lady is found in her friend Dash’s backyard when the dead girl's panties are mixed in with his dirty laundry, and Dash is arrested and charged with the murder of both.

With Dash arrested, his sister, Teri, Lexi, and The Macaroons set out to clear Dash’s name. They soon find several possible suspects. There has been infighting within the Chamber of Commerce and a possible illegal sale of a plot of land. They hope the killer will be found before any more residents are killed.

The story is well-written and plotted. The characters are all interesting and believable. The story contained enough twists and turns that I kept guessing until the end of the book as to the killer's identity. The book reads decent pace. It appeared to me that Detective “Ice” Berg might be melting a bit, and Lexi might be warming up a bit.

I will be watching for the next book in this enjoyable series.

It’s summer festival time in Confection, Oregon, and Lexi, bookseller at the Sweet Fiction Bookshop is making the sales. When a member of the chamber of commerce suddenly dies of a heart attack, and another chamber member dies just one week later, Lexi is concerned. Then, her friend Dash becomes a suspect in the murders. With the help of her friends, can Lexi find the truth and help Dash before he’s sent to prison?
This was a great cozy mystery. I loved Lexi and her sleuthing skills. The setting was one I would like to visit. The plot and suspects confused me a little. There seemed to be an abundance of suspects and motives. By the end of the story, I understood what had happened. The conclusion was satisfying. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy.

A Poisonous Page by Kitt Crowe is the second novel in A Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. In Confection, Oregon two chamber of commerce members are killed. When one of Lexi’s frenemies is accused of the crime, Lexi and the Macaroons (the book club at the bookstore Lexi manages for her parents) set out to discover the identity of the killer. There are quite a few characters to keep track of in this series. It can be hard to keep everyone straight especially those who are friends and those who are not (nasty neighbors, frenemies, and adversaries). I love Lexi’s dog, Cookie. She is indeed a smart cookie. It seems like she understands what people are saying. I am not a fan of Detective Chad Berg who feels the need to constantly issue tickets, fines, and warning to Lexi (it’s like he needs to prove he follows the letter of the law). I do not understand why there is a budding romance between these two characters (I would want to stay as far away from Chad as I could—or, since it is a cozy mystery series, hope that he will be the next victim). The death of the two chamber of commerce members is straightforward. I identified the killer long before the second body turned up. Lexi and her book group were hoping the first death was a murder so they could investigate since they enjoyed solving the last murder. Lexi and her friends speculate on which person they know could have done the deeds. They are a direct bunch. I would have liked more investigating (little sleuthing by Lexi). I found the dialogue to be off and there is a lot of repetition. I would have preferred less romance and a more complex mystery. I did not like the scene where women were slapping each other. I felt that many of the characters were not realistic (nor is their dialogue) and more than a few are unlikeable. While I liked Cookie, she does dominate the book (a scene stealer). Lexi walks the dog, talks to the dog, feeds the dog, etc. I wanted to give this series a second chance (which I did), but I learned that it is not for me. A Poisonous Page is a lighthearted whodunit with a clever Cookie, fun festivals, a busy bar, a deceased chamber of commerce member, a ticket happy detective, the meddling Macaroons, and a sleuthing Lexi.

Lexi manages the family bookstore called Sweet Fiction Bookshop. As she is not the owner despite being family, she never joined the Chamber of Commerce. Little did she know they would be the focus of her attention in this, the second book of the series set in Confection, OR. The first death of a chamber member, a prominent real estate agent, is ruled natural causes - a heart attack. Not long after that a second member dies -again called natural causes. A coincidence or is there a very crafty killer in town? Not being privy to the closely guarded secrets involving some not so legit real estate dealings, Lexi wants to snoop but it's only when her friend, Dash, becomes the prime suspect that she is bound and determined to get answers. Turns out he dated both women and that's enough for the police to utter those dreaded words - case closed. Nope, Lexi and her friends aren't going to let that happen so the investigating begins. After all, Lexi has done this before (once) so why not try to unmask another killer? She had better watch her step because the oh so cute cop from the previous case is on this one and he has already had his eye on her, citing her for such crimes as jaywalking and walking Cookie, her sweet pooch, off leash.
This is a light confection of a cozy mystery and just the right escape from the real world. The mystery is well developed and the characters and the setting are delightful. My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first read in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop series, and it was a fun read.

In fact, it gave me vibes of my favourite cosy mystery series, the Cozy Corgi series by Mildred Abbott.

I mean, a book shop, vibing with the local law enforcement, a store pet, investigating murders. Guess they know my jam.

I loved the townspeople throwing themselves into investigating crimes, there are some absolutely wonderful characters.

Many red herrings will have you guessing whodunnit right to the end.

Enjoyable, and will read more of the series in the future.

This was the second in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop series, and I have not read the first. It didn't matter, the book could easily be read as a stand alone. This was a cozy mystery involving the murder of two chamber members and the search for the killer.

Lexi's friend, Dash has been accused of the murders, since he dated both women who were killed. He seemed the most likely suspect. But Lexi is determined to prove her friend is not the murderer so she sets out, secretly, to follow clues and investigate for herself - despite that cute policeman who keeps telling her not to get involved. She can feel him watching her.

This was a cute mystery with a little romance as well. There were several possible suspects, so it was fun to watch the investigation progress. Cute cover too!

Thanks. to Crooked Lane Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on July 12, 2022.

I really enjoyed this book. Lexi owner of the Sweet Fiction Bookshop and her group of friends decide to investigate two recent murders in their small town. Good story, great characters, and maybe a budding romance.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was very happy to read the second. It was equally as good.

Lexi is the manager of the Sweet Fiction Bookshop in Confection, Oregon. She has a great group of friends who all fancy themselves as amateur detectives, so when people start dying in the town they get together to try and solve the mystery. Lexi's nemesis, Detective Chad Berg, is of course firmly against any of them being involved at all.

I really enjoyed all the developments in this story. Chad shows another side of himself which involves kittens. Lexie nearly gets herself killed (again). And Cookie the wonder dog displays an amazing understanding of spoken English. Crazy but great fun! I am definitely up for book 3!