This is a collection of 6 short cozy mystery stories.

My overall rating is 3,5 ⭐️
1. Staged - Elle Cosimano - Lyda is a real estate agent that tries to sell an old house with the help of her friend Dani. When the landscaper ends up dead in the house they manage to find the killer. This was not realistic, but it was a fun and entertaining read. I also liked Lyda and Will’s banter.
2. The Reunion Dinner - Jesse Q. Sutanto- this started with a family traditional Chinese New Year’s diner and became a murder mystery. With a few other suspects I did not expect the ending. Even for a short story, the crime was “solved” so fast and without needing any evidence.
3. Crime of Fashion- Nellie is an assistant at ELLE and during a photo shoot an expensive necklace is stolen. She did a good job solving the crime and getting a promotion. I did not expect the ending. Short and nice mystery.
4. The Nosy neighbor- We have 2 neighbors in their 70s that are pretty nosy. I liked the story, but it was too short and the ending was surprising.
5. One Lucky subscriber - this one was different and it is about a hide and seek contest on a YouTube channel. Fortunately there is no murder, but the ending was disappointing.
6. A classic case - this is my favorite because it has some romance and a cute ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in return for honest feedback!

I have been on a short story roll as of late and have discovered just how much fun they can be. This collection of short stories all featured authors that I had either read before or read. I found them to be incredibly fun, a little sly at times and surprising always. I laughed out loud many times and found myself unable to stop reading. I also ended up picking up a few of the author's full books, like Emma Rosenblum's Very Bad Company, which I just finished and really enjoyed. I would suggest this collection for lovers of comedic mysteries!

What a rollercoaster!

To be truthful, the start was kinda disappointing, especially since I'm a fan of Cosimano’s other works, but I didn't have to wait long to be amazed by plot twist after plot twist, which led me to an incredibly romantic ending - without forgetting the mystery, of course.

These stories are getting better and better!

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was fun! I enjoyed each of these stories. I’ve read short story collections before where I feel that the stories suffered due to the short length but I think each of these were appropriately short but still entertaining and not rushed! This also was a great introduction to a few new-to-me authors!

What an absolute delight to read these stories! I have never been a fan of shorts, but these
Authors hit the nail with stories that wrap up and you finish them feeling complete. And happy.
Not everyone can pull off the short story, and I would not usually read a collection of them.
Assuming part of a review is my enjoyment of a presentation: I would buy this and subsequent
offerings from these Authors. Others, perhaps, as well having this great break in the week!

The Busybodies Series is a collection of cozy mystery short stories available now on Amazon, featuring some your favorite authors: Elle Cosimano, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Emma Rosenblum, Nita Prose, Kellye Garrett, and Alicia Thompson. I'm really enjoying Amazon's short story collections, so I was thrilled to get early access to this collection. I thoroughly enjoyed each one.

The series includes-
The Staged by Elle Cosimano
The Reunion Dinner Jesse Q. Sutanto
Crime of Fashion by Emma Rosenblum
The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose
One Lucky Subscriber by Kellye Garrett
A Classic Case by Alicia Thompson

Publication Date- Oct 15 2024
#Busybodiescollection #NetGalley

I love these little collections from Amazon. Yeah they may be a little cheesy and a little predictable, but they’re fun and quick reads, and a great way to try out new to you authors without committing to a full book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun collection of stories! A little mystery in each one and a perfect way to spend an afternoon!

What a wonderful collection of short stories! Each story is on average between 30 and 40 pages and involves a mystery (murder, theft, a disappearance). My favourites were Staged (Elle Cosimano), The Reunion Dinner (Jesse Q. Sutanto), and A Classic Case (Alicia Thompson). Classic Case was particularly cute, with fun banter and a budding romance to boot. I enjoyed the dark humor in Classic Case, with “Mr. Hoffman once saw me taking out the trash and said it inspired him to make me a pallbearer at his funeral. He told me to make sure they played ‘At Last’ by Etta James because that’s what everyone in town would be thinking when he finally keeled over. He wanted Get Off My Lawn engraved on his headstone to scare kids away from standing on his grave." taking the cake.

A fun collection with a variety of writing styles, some new authors to me and I will be happily digging into their other written works.

Thank you to authors Elle Cosimano, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Emma Rosenblum, Nita Prose, Kellye Garrett, and Alicia Thompson and NetGalley for the advance copy of the Busybodies Collection.

Disclaimer: I received an advance copy and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Busybodies is a collection of six cozy mystery short stories from six talented authors. The stories are smart and intriguing. The authors have shown their talent by creating characters and scenes that were well developed and plots with defined arcs that were detailed enough that I didn’t feel cheated. It takes crisp writing skills to get all that into a short story.

Each of the stories featured female main characters who were fun and funny. The mysteries are solved by amateur sleuths, which makes them cozy mysteries, however, these aren’t your mama’s cozy mysteries that are a little too cozy and too chatty like you’re kindly talking with the elderly next door neighbor.

Clever plots with interesting twists makes each of the stories a fun read that can be devoured in one sitting.

An interesting and enjoyable collection of short stories by six popular contemporary authors. I had a pleasingly few hours lost in the stories and the different writing styles.

A collection of short stories, written by six famous and beloved authors, thriller genre, what more do we want? Thanks to Netgalley and the authors for this opportunity to read these fantastic stories in preview.

If you want a little suspense, some investigation and a couple of murders, this collection is for you. Amazon has put together six brilliant authors (Elle Cosimano, Jesse Sutano, Emma Rosenblum, Nita Prose, Kellye Garret and Alicia Thompson) to write six short stories, the main theme is murder. A perfect collection for this spooky time. Unmissable. Thanks to Netgalley, the authors and Amazon for these preview copies, that's my opinion.

I'm not always a fan of short stories, but I've been picking up the stories in this collection to fill a little time and haven't read them together. Bite size cozy mysteries with amateur sleuths to keep you guessing and entertained. All part of the busybodies collection.

Staged

There is a little lust and flirting and a ton of amateur sleuthing in this real estate staging mystery. Lots of suspects and a few laughs.

The Reunion Dinner

I thought my big family gatherings were bad, but we all end up alive in the end. Loved the author's usual family dynamics and that was an ending. This one is a little less humorous than the others.

Crime of Fashion

An expensive necklace goes missing at a fashion shoot and there is no shortage of suspects. A mish mash of characters made this entertaining. It definitely doesn't take itself too seriously as everyone hunts for the necklace.

Brittany Presley is one of my favorite narrators and brings this one to life. She is stellar in voicing the large cast and made me smile as I listened.

The Nosy Neighbor

OMG I live next to a Marge. Needs to know everyone's business. She's a quirky old lady meddling in her neighbor's business.

If you like a little dark humor with a little intrigue, this should entertain you.

Sherry Slater narrated this one and she fit the quirky dark humor and sounded like I imagined Marge.

One Lucky Subscriber

A little hide and seek in the mall for a chance to win it all. Danger at every turn and no idea who to trust.

A Classic Case

I loved that this one threw in a little romance along with found family.

Busybodies: There’s a Mystery Around Every Corner (Busybodies Collection #1-6) by Elle Cosimano, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Emma Rosenblum, Nita Prose, Kellye Garrett, and Alicia Thompson

The Busybodies: There’s a Mystery Around Every Corner is an engaging anthology featuring six diverse stories from talented authors Elle Cosimano, Jesse Q. Sutanto, Emma Rosenblum, Nita Prose, Kellye Garrett, and Alicia Thompson. Each short story/book captures the essence of amateur sleuthing and the intrigue of everyday life, woven together by the common theme of curious characters who find themselves embroiled in mysteries.

What I enjoyed most:

1. Diverse Perspectives: Each author brought a unique voice and style, offering a rich tapestry of narratives. From Cosimano's sharp wit to Sutanto's heartfelt storytelling, the collection showcases a range of tones that keep me engaged.

2. Relatable Characters: The protagonists are ordinary individuals who stumble into extraordinary situations. Their relatable quirks and motivations make it easy for me to connect with them, whether they're uncovering secrets in their neighborhoods or navigating personal dilemmas.

3. Clever Plots: Each story is well-crafted with intriguing mysteries that unfold at a satisfying pace. The plots are often laced with humor, adding levity to the tension, and keeping me guessing until the final reveal.

4. Thematic Depth: Beyond the mysteries, the collection explores themes of community, friendship, and the often-overlooked connections we have with those around us. This adds an emotional resonance that elevates the stories.

Areas of Opportunities:

1. Inconsistent Pacing: While some stories built the suspense effectively, others felt rushed or drawn out, which affected the overall flow. A few narratives could have benefited from tighter editing to enhance the pacing.

2. Character Development: In certain stories, characters came across as archetypal or underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more depth. A more nuanced exploration of their backgrounds would have enhanced the emotional impact.

Overall, Busybodies: There’s a Mystery Around Every Corner was a delightful collection celebrating the art of mystery through the lens of everyday life. With its engaging characters, clever plots, and a mix of humor and heart, this collection is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and lighthearted whodunits. Whether you're a seasoned mystery lover or new to the genre, it offers a charming escape into the world of amateur sleuthing. Highly recommended for those seeking a cozy read that invites curiosity around every corner!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this advanced copy. While the ARC is a gift, my reviews are solely based on my own opinions, and I’m under no obligation to any company or individual to post. #Busybodiescollection #NetGalley

This one wasn't a hit for me. Ok short stories, but didn't give busybody vibes at all. I'll stick to the full-length stories from these authors instead.

Absolutely hilarious! Delightful! Each one of these stories is from one of my favorite authors and I enjoyed every word!

A fun and varied collection of short stories with an overarching theme of cosy mysteries and amateur sleuthing. I had a good time with this collection with some stories that really hit and some that weren't really to my personal taste. The standout for me in this collection was The Reunion Dinner which is set around a Chinese New Year celebration when one of the guests is murdered and a meddling matriarch sets out to find a suspect for the police that isn't her son.

I felt like this collection had a good variety of crimes and there was a sprinkling of romance which I think those that enjoy that will appreciate.

What I really love about these short story collections is the ability to get a flavour for different authors' writing and I definitely will be bumping a couple of these authors up my TBR now.

Some of my favorite authors and a fun group of short mysteries but I felt like they were too short and quickly resolved! With that said, I loved the variety of characters, locations, and fun mystery solving! It was also nice to be exposed to a few new authors I've never read to get a quick intro to their work.

What do you get when you take a half dozen dynamic writers and set them free with the task of writing novellas about controlling family members, nosy neighbors, vengeful coworkers, and internet stars? That would be the Busybodies collection of short stories that combine mystery, humor, revenge, karma, and people with too much time on their hands.

In Staged, Elle Cosimano (writer of the popular Finlay Donovan series) tells the story of a real estate agent who is trying to gain some traction at her office by putting in some extra work on her latest house for sale. Lyda enlists the help of her best friend and some local contractors to fix up the Victorian she’s trying to sell, but when her landscaper ends up dead in the bedroom, Lyda will have to do some fast detective work to find the killer and earn her commission.

Jesse Q. Sutanto keeps it all in the family, when Josephine Ying hosts her first Chinese New Year get-together for The Reunion Dinner. She had been wanting to host the dinner for years, so this year is special, especially when her son announces he has a big surprise. Josephine is dreaming of something sparkly for her, as his Wall Street job is just down the street from Tiffany’s, but instead he shows up with a fiancée. And when she turns up dead, Josephine finds out that the family has far more suspects than she thought.

When a very expensive necklace goes missing during a fashion photography shoot, it’s the closet assistant who has to figure out what happened in Emma Rosenblum’s Crime of Fashion. Nellie is an OCD wannabe writer working for Elle in the fashion closet, organizing all the clothes and accessories that designers lean them. But when a $3 million necklace goes missing during a cover shoot, Nellie knows that she will be the one to lose her job if it doesn’t show up. She has to plan out her investigation with the same sort of system she has for keeping the closet in perfect shape, if she wants to save the day and keep her job.

Nita Prose (author of The Maid) goes to Florida in The Nosy Neighbor, where Madge spends her days looking out the window and talking to her husband. Meanwhile, across the street Doris is living her life. She’s trying out tai chi and painting live models. She even insists her husband join her in flamenco lessons. Her husband Bob is less enthusiastic about her hobbies. He’s in his mid-70s also, asthmatic and exhausted. But he takes the dance classes with Doris, and even joins her on a trip to Spain. Doris asks Marge to look after their house while they’re gone, and water the new flowers in the back. But Marge starts to wonder just what is under those flowers, and she goes a little crazy.

In Kellye Garrett’s One Lucky Subscriber, Kidd, a guy with ten million followers online hosts a giant game of hide-and-seek in a mall after hours. There is $50,000 on the line, and most of the ten contestants have been in his games before. They were chosen by his audience through comments on their videos. But then there is Kennedy, the one lucky subscriber, who got chosen at the last minute. She has sole custody of her little brother, so that money would really come in handy. But she has to survive the night, and an attempt on Kidd’s life, to try to win that golden briefcase.

And lastly, in Alicia Thompson’s A Classic Case, a quiet woman spends her Wednesday afternoons in a classic movie rental shop. Audrey has a little bit of a crush on the owner Grant, but she is intrigued by Mr. Hoffman. He is a retired man who comes into the shop every week at the exact same time and rents the same movie every week, She Who Laughs Last, starring Katia Kelly. But when Mr. Hoffman doesn’t show up one Wednesday, Audrey gets concerned. Grant shrugs it off, but he has also has a suspicious bandage on his hand. Audrey finds Mr. Hoffman’s address and heads to his house to see if he’s okay, but what she finds there only brings up more questions.

These six stories are all about similar themes, but they couldn’t be more different. They are smart and intriguing, and they all have twists you can’t see coming. I enjoyed reading them all, and I loved getting a small glimpse into all these authors’ minds. If you’re not interested in all of them, you can buy only the stories that you are drawn to, but for me, I’m glad I read the whole collection. I wanted to read some because I am a big fan of Cosimano, Sutanto, and Prose. And now that I’ve read the stories by Garrett, Thompson, and Rosenblum also, I’m a fan of theirs too. These are tasty appetizers, and now I want to read more.

Egalleys for The Busybodies Collection were provided by Amazon Original Stories through NetGalley, with many thanks.