Murder Can Crash Your Party: A Desiree Shapiro Mystery, by Selma Eichler

I doubt I could read the whole series--the main character has some very unlikeable qualities and the writing is far too confessional ("Don't you know...") but I still found myself unable to put this book down based on the strength of the mystery storyline alone. Well done!

Clubbed to Death: A Dead-End Job Mystery, by Elaine Viets

I really liked the writing, even if I don't care for the premise (a rich woman quits her job and goes on the run to avoid paying spousal support? Sounds despicable). Maybe I'd enjoy the author's other series--the Mystery Shopper series.

Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making it Work, by Tim Gunn

I love Tim Gunn! What a marvellous Christmas present this book was!

Six Geese A-Slaying: A Meg Langslow Christmas Mystery, by Donna Andrews

Oh, I do love a Christmas mystery! And this one was quite nice--fast-paced, made sense and very Christmas-y. The author is trying too hard to be "ultra liberal" and ends up being unintentionally a bit racist, but otherwise it's excellent.

A Healthy Place to Die, by Peter King

It's odd that the main character, The Gourmet Detective, is never ever named in the series, and it seems a bit self-indulgent to make him SUCH a ladies' man, but the writing is so strong that I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book.

Chapter and Hearse: A Booktown Mystery, by Lorna Barrett

The writing is FAR too flawed and amateurish for me to become a real fan of this series, but the premise and setting are just so appealing! A small New England town that has a whole street of just specialty book stores and book-themed cafes? Holy shizz! So unlikely! So cozy! Plus there are old people and recipes and cats and...on second thought maybe the author was trying to cram as many cozy mystery standbys in a single series as she could. I'm surprised every book isn't also centred around a different holiday. Too bad about the writing. Such a lovely premise wasted.