Read saving Midnight Snacks are Murder (A Poppy McAllister Mystery #2) To ask other readers questions about Midnight Snacks are Murder, please sign up. .. series. I truly believe this was one of the funniest cozies I have ever read. .. I really hope it doesn't become a running theme and hope it clears up in book 3!.
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But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll — who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity. Hardcover , pages. Published May 7th by Margaret K. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
To ask other readers questions about Doll Bones , please sign up. This question contains spoilers… view spoiler [why did Eleanor kerchners father chopped her into pieces and burnt her? Charlotte the book said because he didn't want her in the dirt, I think that he was nice enough to do it.
Who was your favorite Character? Grace Wright Poppy is my favorite character! See all 21 questions about Doll Bones…. Lists with This Book. Sep 16, Jesse JesseTheReader rated it liked it. While this was an interesting read and even a bit creepy, it didn't completely grab me like I'd hoped it would. The romance in this book felt so out of place and unnecessary. It didn't do anything for me and I didn't find that it did anything for the plot. I also felt like the pacing of this book seemed a bit off.
I am happy that I took the time to read this, but to me it just wasn't anything spectacular. View all 7 comments. Dec 08, Hannah Greendale rated it it was ok Shelves: Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been playing make-believe for as long as they've been friends. With pirates and mermaids, thieves and warriors, their imaginary realm is ruled by the Great Queen, a bone-china doll Poppy's mom keeps locked in a cabinet. When their dreams reveal the bone-china doll is haunted by a girl who longs to be buried with her deceased family, Zach, Poppy, and Alice set off on a real adventure to lay the girl to rest.
Doll Bones doesn't shy away from the macabre and there are qu Zach, Poppy, and Alice have been playing make-believe for as long as they've been friends. Doll Bones doesn't shy away from the macabre and there are quite a few instances where the spook factor is employed to great effect: Poppy carefully took the bone china doll from her backpack. Zach drew his breath and went silent. The [doll's] dull black eyes were open, her gaze boring into his own. He'd always thought she was creepy-looking, but in the reflected beam of the flashlight, she seemed demonic.
The problem with Doll Bones is that it flounders in its identity. It reads as though the author had two separate stories in mind, which she wrote and then merged together with clunky stitching. It's Poppy who drives the story, though she's not the primary protagonist. She's the first character to dream about the china doll's past: That hair threaded through the scalp is the little girl's hair.
And the body of the doll is filled with her leftover ashes. Along the way they break into a building and steal from multiple people, always justifying their actions by saying they'll return the items when they're done. They suffer no consequences for these reprehensible actions - a terrible message to promote to impressionable young readers.
Though Poppy is the device used to propel the story, Zach is the protagonist. Doll Bones is a coming of age story. Zach's rocky relationship with his father, his desire to play with action figure toys as a pre-teen, and his budding interest in girls are explored amidst the journey to deliver the doll to her final resting place. These dual stories overlap in an awkward, forced manner. Poppy drives the story, because it's ultimately her desire to lay the doll to rest; Zach more or less tags along and just happens to hit puberty along the way.
Doll Bones is a coming of age story shoved into the tale of a haunted doll. The book's macabre foundation and spooky interludes aren't enough to make up for its disjointed approach to storytelling.
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View all 14 comments. The psychological stuff is far more of a lure for me. It was this insider look into the world of ghosts and on the show we heard about a haunted home. It was a well-lit suburban house and we watched as a woman took off her shoes, walked over to the couch, and took a nap. When she woke up, the shoes were next to her. And that right there is what scares me half to death. Which is probably why a book like Doll Bones by Holly Black works for me on a horror level.
Dark enough to attract fans of Goosebumps and the like yet able to make them actually think a bit about their own lives on a deeper level, Black strikes the perfect balance between the sensational and the smart. By and large middle schoolers do not play with dolls. Using dolls of every type they spin wild tales and live out personalities different from their own. Ashamed, Zach lies to his friends that he no longer wants to play. Inside the doll are ashes and if any of the three is to get any peace they will have to bury the doll in a specific grave.
Stine every wrote a Newbery quality horror book for kids. And though it may not sound like it, this is high praise. Kids adore being scared.
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The fascination fades for some, but for others it taps into the same instincts that drive adults to watch loads of horror films. The trick to writing really good horror literature for kids is to strike the right balance between the creepy and the safe. Do not be mistaken.
These authors appear to be inclined to believe that their readers will stick with their novels partly for the good writing and partly to see if the book lives up to the promises of its dust jacket and cover. In Doll Bones , Black separates this book from being yet another average ghostly tale by giving it a tragic edge. All this talk of letting go of your youth and babyhood is told in the context of dolls. The kids play with dolls and the storytelling relies on their physical presence. So is storytelling itself childish to kids? Playing pretend is, and Black has to provide her child readers with the question of whether creating stories is an act of adulthood or childhood.
Certainly Zach is good at it. You can feel Doll Bones fighting against this tendency. In telling this tale Black holds herself back in a number of ways. She never shows too much of her hand when recounting multiple creepy moments throughout the quest. Instead, Black chooses to remain entirely in the real world. The gift of this book is that it feels like it could happen to the kid reading it.
No one walks through a magic door into a strange land or encounters mystical creatures. These three kids have to get, on their own, to a graveyard far away and they have to deal with some VERY realistic problems like weird strangers on buses, bus tickets in general, suspicious adults, and cell phones Black is to be commended for not ignoring their existence and instead weaving them skillfully into the plot.
This grounding in reality is what makes the horror that much more engaging. It is interesting to note that as of this review Ms. Holly Black is not a particularly well-known name amongst the younger set of readers. Years ago she helped Tony DiTerlizzi create the Spiderwick Chronicles and all the books in that series. Happily, this solo outing does her proud. She indulges in smart wordplay and strong good writing for much of the book. If the book has problems it probably has something to do with the suspension of disbelief. So why exactly does he make everything so monumentally worse by not telling them what his father did to him?
For a long time this fact plays out as a convenient plot point and not a believable fact. Was the doll evil and ghost good? Were they one and the same or different? It all comes down to something Poppy says near the end of the book. So she gives voice to a fear that so many children feel but are unable to verbalize on their own. I hate that everyone calls it growing up, but it seems like dying. View all 4 comments. Sep 10, Micah Francis rated it it was amazing.
I loved this book! I was hesitant going in because it is a middle grade book. I was pleasantly surprised. This book pulled me in immediately. The writing was amazing and I loved the illustrations. Three friends play an imaginary game. When Zach can no longer play, the game is over. Until Poppy has a dream about the bone China doll that acts as the queen of their game. Thus begins their quest and creeping happenings along the way. This book was fun and the writing was perfect. Recommend for every I loved this book! Sep 18, Giselle rated it really liked it Shelves: Holly Black is one of few who can write something as cute as it is creepy!
Doll Bones is a Middle Grade novel that is full of adventure and friendship--really the only type of MG books I read and enjoy. It's the story of Zach, Poppy, and Alice who have been friends for such a long time that their friendship feels familiar even to us. I immediately felt attuned to their mutual trust and support. Not giving in when the other kids laughed at them for playing with action figures.
But then one day the Holly Black is one of few who can write something as cute as it is creepy! But then one day the game got a little bit more real, and it involves a creepy devil doll who is made of little girl bones! A lot of it is due to it being open to interpretation: Did the doll really move itself during the night, or was it the animal who trashed their campsite? This is why movies like The Blair Witch Project became so popular, or why most books are better than movies; imagination can be most powerful.
Imagination is what's at the heart of this whole book; it's what brought the friends together from day 1, and it's what turned this story into a fantasy adventure. If imagination is at its heart, it's the friendship that keeps it beating. These kids, determined and stubborn, go through a fair amount of difficulty to get to where they want to go and, even though there are many arguments and disagreements, they stick up and care for each other until the end. The narrator being Zach, we're privy to what it's like to be a young, hurt, pre-teenaged boy who wishes he could stay a kid for just a little while longer.
These kids are 12 year olds, thus are still in that imaginative stage without being too childish. So we get a pretty balanced read with some dangerous happenings, a little thievery, risky antics, but it's all in good fun. To keep things even more interesting, aside from the doll we're kept from forgetting, we get a mysterious and quite disturbing story that surrounds the death of the girl whom she was created from--or so we're told ; Delightfully sweet with a deliciously eerie vibe, Doll Bones is perfect for the young at hearts who like to plunge into a fun adventure that has all the innocence of a child's story, but the excellent storytelling any adult can enjoy.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads View all 19 comments. Jan 15, Kelly and the Book Boar rated it really liked it Shelves: Find all of my reviews at: And then I received notice that my auto renewal failed, but the book was still available f Find all of my reviews at: And then I received notice that my auto renewal failed, but the book was still available for me to re-download without all of my noted info.
Have I not cooperated with you and read a couple of seriously pukeable romance suggestions in order to pass your Winter Reading Challenge? Why you gotta be so rude???? What happens instead is Poppy finds herself haunted by the true story behind the bone china which created the doll and insists Alice and Zach help return the Queen to the cemetery where she was supposed to be buried.
If your kids are anything like mine and have enjoyed coming of age stories like. They should find Doll Bones an absorbingly quick read. Highly entertaining with just enough creepiness to add some thrills to the story, but not so much as to scare the pants off the little ones. View all 11 comments. Apr 16, Calista rated it really liked it Shelves: This reminds me a little of John Bellairs stories. It is about kids with the unknown and supernatural stuff happening to them. I enjoyed this read. It was pure fun. Zac, Poppy and Alice use toys and action figures to make up stories.
It's really about the joy of imagination. Well, Zac's dad doesn't get it an he throws all his toys away saying it's time to grow up. So they think the game is over. Poppy is having dreams about a very creepy doll that is supposedly made out of bones. They then go on This reminds me a little of John Bellairs stories. They then go on a quest of their childhood to break a curse. It was fast paced and well written. This is entertaining and there are plenty of chills to go around. Sep 19, Laura rated it it was amazing. Do you live, read, and breathe stories? Does the idea of causing trouble make you grin?
Do you believe in magic? The pull and power of a story on the page and off the cuff, free-flowing narratives can hold the secrets of the world for me. True magic can be found in a story. I have always believed that and always will. A tale filled with imagination, heart, and story magic that cast a powerful spell over me. My reading heart absolutely adored spending time in this book. I actually ducked under the covers at one point! At times I found myself reading out loud lines of pure magic that hit my heart with love and memories.
I love what this book pulled out of me. Our story revolves around three friends—Poppy, Zach, and Alice. Friends since they were little. Spending time together improvising tales and characters that they act out and create. A world shared between the three of them with pirates, thieves, dangers, and mystery. But at 12 years old, the pressures of growing up are starting to intrude on their game and connection. Is it time to let their story spinning adventures go? Not if the Queen has anything to say about it!
Strange and spooky things begin to happen as soon as the bone china doll, known as The Queen in their game, is freed from her cabinet. Dreams, dares, and determination propel this trio on a road tripping quest that will test their belief in magic, courage, and friendship. So grab a flashlight! This one is sure to give you chills! I have to send huge love to Ms. She captured that awkward and confusing time between childhood and teenager-hood so perfectly. At age 12, kids often feel like they have one foot in each world.
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And whether we want to step over that line or notwe all have to grow up. Parents, friends, and doubt push and pull at Poppy, Zach, and Alice causing tension and friction. But when these three are together, I can feel their friendship beating on the page. I adored their energy together even when they fought. Zach is adorable, tender hearted, and so hilarious. I loved his voice. He nearly broke my heart to bits. Big, fat tears rolled down my cheeks for pages and pages.
Zach guides readers through this story, so we get to see his heart and head a bit easier than the girls. But Zach was my favorite. You know the rules. Haha… ; named his cat The Party; and packed orange soda, Twizzlers and a book on poisonous plants just in case for a quest! D Zach is one giant heart squeeze after another! But along with the power of friendship, Ms. Black captured the magic of words, imagination, and sense of adventure on the page. That thrill of staying up late.
Hiding in the shadows. The fear of getting caught. You will feel the adrenaline and fun run through your blood! The night has always been my time. I feel more alive in the dark, so Ms. It felt ripe with magic and endless possibility. Oh, those deliciously fun doughnuts! Haha…I could see, smell and feel it all.
Plus the woman carved out a special spot in my heart for the shout outs of love for Doctor Who, insomniac squirrels, and the sacred Rock, Paper, Scissors game! Now I confess dolls creep me out big time. They are right up there with clowns. Whispers, winds, and that something just moved out of the corner of your eye feeling! Did she just move? Did you just hear that? Haha…Huge hair-raising fun that will have you grinning ear to ear!
I will let Poppy, Zach, and Alice fill you in. So… do we have to lose a piece of ourselves to grow up? Stop loving the supposed childish things in life? I do feel like some days my smile and sense of adventure is sucked out of me by life and the daily grind. But words and stories like this one remind me and recharge me. Hold on to your imagination! We all have a story. Every day we write a new one by moving about the world and sharing our time and voices with others. Who is in your story? A highly recommended tale of wonder that I will treasure. Grab a flashlight and tunnel under the covers….
I did have one worry though: Plus it happened more than once. The kids do show remorse and make steps to amend their wicked ways, but it still remains my only disappointment here. Just a heads up. Feb 25, Trudi rated it it was ok Shelves: I came at this little book with expectations waaaay too high, and my overall tepid response to it is the result. That cover, that awesome cover screams epic creep.
This is not Coraline. I hate to pit books against each other in caged death matches, but my reader brain kept doing that here, and guess which competitor got gutted and left for dead? It was gruesome to watch so ill-prepared was the one for the other. Doll Bones will have some appeal to younger middle-grade readers. It's not too scary, and has likeable protagonists who hit the road on an adventure Stand by Me style. You've got two girls and a boy, so there's a nice gender balance too. View all 10 comments. May 19, Richard Denney marked it as to-read Shelves: View all 5 comments.
May 15, Sara sarawithoutanH rated it liked it Shelves: I haven't had much luck with other Holly Black books in the past, so this one surprised me. It's a book that I would have loooooved as kid. I was super into spooky stories. I really liked both the characters and the writing. I just wish there'd been a little more ghost activity.
The story felt like it was missing something for me. But, overall, I thought this was really cute and I had a lot of fun reading it. I read this to my 9-year-old son and we both loved it. He loved the adventure, I loved how Black so perfectly captured that age just before adolescence. As an adult, I think we forget sometimes how scary it was being a kid and realizing that growing up means putting away your toys and venturing off into the unknown of dating and adolescence.
The kids in this book are so fun and the parents were also incredibly well-crafted. Then there is the ghost story, that was spooky enough to keep our interest I read this to my 9-year-old son and we both loved it. Then there is the ghost story, that was spooky enough to keep our interest without being too scary for kids. Black leaves much to the reader to decide what is real and what is fantasy which suited this coming of age adventure perfectly.
This is a book that we both loved and one I doubt either of us will soon forget. I highly recommend this to anyone with elementary or middle school aged children that enjoy a good ghost story. The characters weren't very interesting or likeable, all they did was snap at each other, and the MC was so unbelievably generic and dull.
There was nothing remotely scary, creepy, adventurous or dramatic about the story, it was all so blah. The illustrations weren't impressive either, they didn't really add anything to the book. View all 6 comments. Apr 25, Kristina Horner rated it liked it. I ended up having a good time reading this book, but I didn't love it.
I often had a hard time believing these kids were twelve and not in their late teens, the crush between two of the main characters felt shoe-horned in, and the way Zach reacted to his dad throwing out his toys refusing to tell his friend what happened and just closing off seemed While the plot was fun, it felt like a book trying to achieve A Series of Unfortunate Events levels of disbe I ended up having a good time reading this book, but I didn't love it.
While the plot was fun, it felt like a book trying to achieve A Series of Unfortunate Events levels of disbelief suspension, but it didn't quite get there for me. It just felt far-fetched. This is the first Holly Black book that didn't scratch an itch for me, and maybe it's because I am about 15 years older than the target demographic, but this one felt off. Jun 12, Barb Middleton rated it it was amazing Shelves: My best friend, Ginny, and I would sneak into the storm sewer system that emptied into the nature center bordering our adjacent backyards, huddle around a candle it was more exciting striking a match than flipping a flashlight switch and whisper ghost stories to each other.
We'd hike in the inky darkness bent at the waist until reaching a manhole where we'd straighten up looking at a spotlight of sunshine near a small hole at the top. Sometimes I'd climb the rungs to get closer to the light fe My best friend, Ginny, and I would sneak into the storm sewer system that emptied into the nature center bordering our adjacent backyards, huddle around a candle it was more exciting striking a match than flipping a flashlight switch and whisper ghost stories to each other. Sometimes I'd climb the rungs to get closer to the light feeling relief from the stale, black claustrophobic enclosure.
One time, we reached the third manhole and spun a wild bigfoot tale. When we finished the story we heard a loud scraping noise and a gust of air blew out the candle. Screaming at the top of our lungs and convinced a monster had found us in an underground grave, Ginny dropped the candle and we sprinted hunched over taking the skin off our elbows and heads as we banged along the narrow concrete tube toward the only exit.
We burst out into the sunlight, flopping onto the grass, laughing hysterically and savoring the joy of a fun adventure. This book reminds me of those good times as a youngster. Not only does it scare the reader, it explores the idea that when people grow up they stop making up imaginative creative stories like they did in childhood. As adults creative outlets change; as a child, the belief in magic and the impossible still exits.
Holly Black has created a well-crafted, suspenseful, horror story that will appeal to adults and children. She hasn't written a children's book since "The Spiderwick Chronicles" with Tony DiTerlizzi and while I have seen some of her graphic novels, I haven't seen a middle grade book in a long time. This one is terrific. I can see why it is on Newbery lists as a contender this year.
Twelve-year-old Zach, Alice, and Poppy have created an imaginary world for years using action figures and dolls. Their swashbuckling pirate adventures are pretty elaborate with Poppy usually playing the villain, Zach the pirate, and Alice his crazy, loud sidekick. When Zach's dad tosses out his action figures because he thinks Zach shouldn't be playing with dolls, Zach is so upset he can't talk about it. When he tells Alice and Poppy he isn't going to play "the game" anymore they can't understand why. Poppy gets so upset that she takes her mother's forbidden antique doll from the case.
This creepy doll is the Queen in their pretend play and everything done is meant to please her. The doll is haunted by a ghost who tells the three that they must bury her or terrible things will happen. They take off on an adventure to not only bury the Queen doll, but say, "Goodbye," to their childhood games. The intricate plot between the imaginary play and real life events and relationships of the three make this a fascinating read.
I want to explore this book more in depth than creating a surface review so this is your spoiler alert. Stop here if you don't want to know the plot. We first meet Zachary, Alice, and Poppy where they are pretending the pirate, William the Blade, is on a quest to find who his father is on the high seas. This reflects Zach's real life where his dad left their family three years ago in pursuit of a dream to own a business that didn't come true and left him bitter and angry.
Zach is not happy that his dad moved back home. He isn't sure he wants to claim him as a father. Alice's parents died and she lives with an overprotective, smothering grandmother who won't even let her choose what clothes to wear. Lady Jaye steals from everyone and gets mad at Poppy who likes to improvise and dominate the storyline. Poppy is fierce and dramatic which makes her good at playing the villains.
Poppy which means friendship doesn't want her friends to change and desperately tries to keep their pretend game going to the point of making up, or not, the ghost haunting the doll. William the Blade, who rescues Lady Jaye and is the hero mirrors Alice's crush on the unbeknownst Zach that she wants to date. Well, the cops are also honing in on Aunt Ginny as a murder suspect!
Poppy knows that her aunt would never commit murder so she decides to show that know it all cop Amber once an Poor Poppy!! Poppy knows that her aunt would never commit murder so she decides to show that know it all cop Amber once and for all that nobody messes with Poppy McAllister! Not only does this book contain a well planned mystery but the author also threw in lots of humor, a love triangle, and a bunch of mouth watering recipes I'd love to eat them even if they are PaleoNO recipes!
I highly recommend this series if you want to laugh your butt off while reading a fun cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end! I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series! Aug 09, Susan rated it it was amazing. I truly believe this was one of the funniest cozies I have ever read. I was laughing throughout most of the book and Poppy won my heart from the very first chapter.
Written by a fellow Jersey girl, I was instantly hooked from page one and could not put this wonderful story down. The twists and turns kept coming and I had to know who dun it! Poppy has just lost her husband nine months ago. She stays with her eccentric aunt, Ginny, who she learns, is being investigated by police for murder! Aunt Ginny is sleep walking and has been dubbed The Snack Bandit, all due to her new anxiety medication. Poppy's mother in law, Georgina arrives to help with the renovations of the B and B and I wanted to strangle her in every chapter!
How Poppy doesn't lose her mind between Ginny and Georgina is beyond me! Besides all that she is dealing with being in a love triangle with her old high school boyfriend and a new man who seems a little too smooth to me! Now Poppy finds herself investigating the murder of a local hero and she has a long list of suspects. Poppy is a horrible detective and at times, she really cracked me up with her way of thinking. Haha it's just so funny! I was laughing out loud but the story also kept me guessing. I read it in one long sitting and had to know what was going to happen to Poppy and her Aunt Ginny.
There are also recipes at the end of the book which is an added bonus! I'm so excited to continue with this series and will read anything by Libby Klein! Aug 11, Mary Brown rated it it was amazing. The characters are well developed and well rounded. Poppy is a hard working caring person. She is willing to do anything to make sure that Aunt Ginny does not spend the rest of her life behind bars for a crime she did not commit. Poppy is a natural born investigator: I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Poppy and Aunt Ginny, you can tell how much they love each other.
Even Smitty, the contractor, plays a role in this book. The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. Through much of the book I felt like I was right there at the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, New Jersey, watching the construction take place and listening in on conversations.
This helped me to remain engaged throughout the whole story. I really like that Poppy is not your typical cozy protagonist. She is older than most and she is not athletic or fit and trim. She is portrayed realistically and I could see myself being friends with her. The mystery was well crafted and not easy to solve. There were enough clues to sift through and many suspects to consider. Throw in some twists and turns and you have the ideal mystery. I did not figure out the culprit until it was revealed at the end, which is how I like it.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. It had everything I look for in a cozy: I would give this book more than 5 starts if I could. Be sure to check it out. Jun 25, Lisa Morin rated it it was amazing. This is the second book in the series and I couldn't put it down. Poppy is such a fun character and Aunt Ginny is full of spunk. Aunt Ginny has gotten herself into a bit of hot water and naturally Poppy needs to help.
The antics in this book will leave you laughing and the mystery will keep you guessing. This is quickly becoming my favorite series. I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley. Aug 04, Laura rated it really liked it. But the stress is getting to Aunt Ginny, and the doctor puts her on meds to help her sleep.
Unfortunately they also turn her into a sleepwalker, and she is breaking into neighbor's houses to steal snacks and knickknacks. Things seem harmless, until a local humanitarian who worked with troubled teens if found Poppy McAllister is working hard to make a go of her gluten-free baking business, and helping her Aunt Ginny remodel her Victorian house into the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May. Things seem harmless, until a local humanitarian who worked with troubled teens if found dead, the police, led by Poppy's high school nemesis, Office Amber, think Aunt Ginny is the killer.
Poppy knows better, and she works to make sure people know Aunt Ginny might have taken midnight snacks, but she never took someone's life. Just like in the first Poppy McAllister mystery, author Libby Klein mixes humor, great characters and a tightly woven plot to produce a great addiction to what is rapidly becoming one of my favorite series. Poppy is very likable, and loyal to her family and friends. The way she goes into the investigation in an effort to protect Aunt Ginny is perfect. There are many different suspects, and reasons for the killing, and each one is flushed out perfectly, so you don't really figure out whodunit until the end.
The only thing I would have liked was to have met the murder victim before he died. I love feisty Aunt Ginny, too. Her antics always bring a smile to my face. Poppy's former mother-in-law, Georgina, adds to the storyline.
Doll Bones
Georgina is a hard character to like at times, but I really enjoyed the way Ms. Klein brought that plot line together in the end, and it made me wonder what would happen in the next book. If you like your cozies with great food, humor, and a wonderful mystery, then the Poppy McAllister series is for you.
There is also romance mixed in, enough to make a reader smile, but not so much that it is overpowering. This is definitely a great series that is on its way up in the cozy world. I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I never thought an author can get better with her next book, but Libby Klein did. This book is cutely enchanting This book too has Poppy in the forefront, but this time it is Aunt Ginny who is accused of murder, that too hitting a youngish man on the head with a baseball bat in his home at night.
An ish year old thin woman doing that is a thought scary!! Poppy is a strong main character in this book who has 2 men fighting for her love and her body and her baked goods. Her aunt's home, now h I never thought an author can get better with her next book, but Libby Klein did. Poppy has to manage all of above along with proving Aunt Ginny's innocence. The story has Poppy playing her role beautifully, her intelligence shines through in this. Her pastries, cakes, and cookies made me crave for them; she makes gluten-free ones the author has made them sound deliciously mouth-watering This book has many humorous situations and dialogs.
The best part is Aunt Ginny trying to break the ankle monitor or trying to break free of the house arrest. The excuses used on the unsuspecting chaperones are fabulous. I wish to be as adventurous when I am ish as Aunt Ginny minus the murder and arrest. Poppy and her eccentric team along with her cat Figaro, make this series a rocking cozy mystery!!
Poppy Pomfrey
Aug 12, Tari rated it it was amazing Shelves: I think this may have been even funnier than the first book. I know I spent plenty of time snickering or laughing out loud as I read. There was no shortage of suspects, even though they focused on Aunt Ginny. I definitely hadn't guessed who the killer was. She ended up with more than house repairs on her hands whe It was awesome going back to visit Aunt Ginny and Poppy at Cape May. She ended up with more than house repairs on her hands when Ginny started sleepwalking and stealing food and little trinkets from the neighbors while taking her prescription sleeping pills.
When she thought it was taken care of by switching to alternative medicine, Ginny was accused of killing a local humanitarian, and once again, Poppy felt she needed to investigate and prove her aunt's innocence. I could picture this all playing out, all these crazy things Aunt Ginny was getting into. At one point, she was on house arrest with an ankle bracelet and it was just so comical to read about her escape attempts. As much as I can't stand Georgina Poppy's mother-in-law it was hilarious to see the different names she called Smitty the contractor because she didn't seem to be able to remember his name.
The mystery was a good one, lots of people weren't what they seemed on the outside, but finally the killer was taken down, literally, by of all people, Aunt Ginny herself. For anyone that needs to bake gluten-free there are some recipes from Poppy's own kitchen in the back of the book, along with a little sneak preview of the next book, "Restaurant Weeks Are Murder" which, according to Amazon, releases in February. Jun 23, Maureen Timerman rated it it was amazing Shelves: While there is a murder here, and that is sad, but there are so many chuckles to contact the sadness.
We also see a middle age woman, Poppy, and how she is now being pursued by two eligible men, and wonder whom she will end up with? Poppy McAllister is a woman to emulate, and loved how she goes about trying to help those she loves and cares about. I received this book through Great Escapes Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review. Jun 08, Kristin Cochran Schadler rated it it was amazing. If I could give this more than 5 stars, I absolutely would.
This book kept me in stitches the whole time I was reading. Between Georgina and Aunt Ginny's antics, I was laughing through the whole book. Besides being entertaining, it was a really good mystery, too. Lots of twists and turns, very enjoyable! I seriously cannot wait for the next book! Jun 18, Shelly rated it really liked it Shelves: This is the follow-up book to, Class Reunions Are Murder. It is the second book in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series.
Poor Aunt Ginny becomes a sleepwalker after being prescribed medication to manage her anxiety during the mayhem. Midnight Snacks Are Murder is a light, fun and upbeat cozy mystery. Jul 30, Kristina rated it liked it Shelves: But then her mother-in-law, Georgina decides to visit to check on her investment and proves more of a hinderance than a help as usual.
Thank heavens for Giampaolo and his soothing presence. Then strange thefts start plaguing the neighborhood where the thief is taking knickknacks and eating snacks. After a visit to the doctor, Poppy takes Aunt Ginny around the neighborhood offering apologies and returning the stolen items. The next day, police arrive to arrest Aunt Ginny for the death of Brody Brandt whose crime scene looks similar to those of the Snack Bandit as Aunt Ginny has been dubbed by the press.
Someone is framing Aunt Ginny and Poppy intends to reveal the truth to keep Aunt Ginny out of the slammer. Poppy needs to work quickly, though, because Aunt Ginny is on house arrest which gives her too much time to plot mischief. While this is the second book in the series, it can be read alone. I thought Midnight Snacks are Murder to be nicely written, to have a steady pace and smooth transitions.
I like finding out more about Georgina and the reason for her behavior. However, I do not see her changing her behavior overnight. I find Aunt Ginny to be too over-the-top. She comes across as crazy instead of eccentric. I did not understand why the local cops did not just stick her in a cell and throw away the key when she kept escaping house arrest. The city had a cop stationed outside the house no city can afford to waste manpower in that manner. I was happy that Poppy actively investigated the murder. I am surprised, though, that people were so willing to talk to her it is New Jersey considering she is not with the police or a private investigator.
I thought it was a breeze to finger the culprit, but others may be surprised when the solution is revealed depends on your sleuthing level. I did not like the love triangle present in the story or the amount of time devoted to romance. I felt Gia was coming on too strong and seems too perfect of course, there is his mother. The presents he bought Poppy were considerate and expensive.
I was drooling over the description of cobalt blue Viking dual fuel range I want it. I enjoyed the ending with Mrs. Galbraith it gave me a good laugh. If you enjoy amusing cozy mysteries with comical hijinks, then you will not want to miss Midnight Snacks are Murder. Jul 31, Mark Baker rated it really liked it Shelves: When someone starts breaking into houses in the neighborhood taking nick knacks and sweets, Poppy McAlister is shocked to discover that it is her aunt Ginny sleepwalking under the power of some new medication.
However, when a murder takes place a couple of blocks away, the police zero in on Aunt Ginny as the culprit. The victim, unknown to both Poppy and Aunt Ginny, seems like he could have been a nice guy or a complete jerk. This book spent quite a bit of time setting up the prem When someone starts breaking into houses in the neighborhood taking nick knacks and sweets, Poppy McAlister is shocked to discover that it is her aunt Ginny sleepwalking under the power of some new medication.
This book spent quite a bit of time setting up the premise, but once the murder took place, things really picked up. I enjoyed needing to learn what kind of guy the victim was since it added a nice twist to the mystery. The suspects were strong, and I could have seen any of them as the killer before we reached the climax.
The love triangle is just heating up; I know which guy I am rooting for, but I could see myself happy with either of them at this point. Aunt Ginny provides lots of laughs, and the gluten-free, paleo friendly recipes at the end sound delicious. I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers. Aug 11, Dawn Frazier rated it it was amazing. Jul 05, Peggy R rated it really liked it Shelves: This second installment in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series was a fun, entertaining read. This time around Poppy must clear Aunt Ginny's name as the primary suspect in a murder. Aunt Ginny is hysterical with her antics and Poppy should receive a medal for what she has to deal with while trying to clear her name.
The characters in this series are all developing nicely and we get to know some a bit more in this book. I like how Poppy and Aunt Ginny complement each other. Poppy is still finding This second installment in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series was a fun, entertaining read.
Poppy is still finding her self esteem and voice while Aunt Ginny is bold and brash. I'm hoping more of Aunt Ginny rubs off on Poppy without too much of the crazy. The mystery was well done and kept me guessing until the end. I liked that the victim was neither all good nor all bad. It allowed the author to provide the reader with an array of suspects that kept me guessing until the killer's identity was revealed.
I voluntarily read an advanced read copy provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley. Aug 16, Cathy Daniel rated it it was amazing. This book is just as witty and hilarious as the first! I really hope it doesn't become a running theme and hope it clears up in book 3! This is the second book in this series and it is even better than the first!
The mystery was well written and paced. The characters are fun, but realistic, and I enjoyed reading about them. All in all, this book was a delight to read and a great continuation to this new series. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next in the series. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. Jul 15, Nicole rated it it was amazing Shelves: Poppy McAllister has moved back home to Cape May, New Jersey, and is in the midst of opening a bed and breakfast with her beloved Aunt Ginny, when her mother-in-law, Georgina, appears on the front step announcing her intentions to move in and protect her investment.
As if this isn't stressful enough, dear old Aunt Ginny is accused of burglary after a change in medication causes her to sleepwalk and break into her neighbors' homes, and when one of those neighbors is found brutally murdered Aunt G Poppy McAllister has moved back home to Cape May, New Jersey, and is in the midst of opening a bed and breakfast with her beloved Aunt Ginny, when her mother-in-law, Georgina, appears on the front step announcing her intentions to move in and protect her investment.
As if this isn't stressful enough, dear old Aunt Ginny is accused of burglary after a change in medication causes her to sleepwalk and break into her neighbors' homes, and when one of those neighbors is found brutally murdered Aunt Ginny is accused of the crime. Combine this with the fact that widow Poppy has two men vying for her affections, and her bestie, Sawyer, seems to be hiding something, Midnight Snacks Are Murder is a rolicking good read, and a laugh out loud cozy mystery that, if you're like me, will keep you turning the pages way past your bedtime because it's simply too good to put down.
So good that on a scale of one to five stars, I'm gonna have to give it a ten! Oh, and by the way, I'm completely TeamGia! Aug 12, Jessica Robbins rated it it was amazing Shelves: Every bit as awesome as book one! Unfortunately they cause sleep walking that comes with some strange behavior. Just when they figure out what is going on a murder victim is found with an MO that matches the Aunt's nightly routine. With Amber as the officer in charge Poppy feels compelled to investigate only to uncover a nasty surprise.
This book is just full of great characters, action, and laughs on every page. Keeping up with the Aunt and Mother-in-Law are full time jobs that Poppy does her best to juggle. I love how real she is with her breakdowns with food and more. Beautifully written and it really is a must read for fans of culinary cozy mysteries.
Aug 17, Nina Silva rated it really liked it Shelves: I enjoyed the first in this series and can happily say the same about the second! This one was just as laugh out loud funny as book number one. Midnight Snacks works as a stand alone. You can catch up on any key info easily and there are no spoilers in case you do want to go back to book one.
Poppy is going strong in her journey of self-betterment.