When her sleepwalking aunt is accused of committing murder, Poppy McAllister finds out there’s no rest for the weary . . . Between trying to get her gluten-free baking business off the ground and helping her aunt remodel her old Victorian into the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, New Jersey, Poppy is ready to call, “Mayday!” And now Aunt Ginny—who’s a handful wide-awake—is … wide-awake—is sleepwalking on her new sleeping pill prescription and helping herself to neighbors’ snacks and knickknacks.
Even more alarming, a local humanitarian who worked with troubled teens is found murdered, and the police suspect the “Snack Bandit.” Other than a bad case of midnight munchies and some mild knickknack kleptomania, Aunt Ginny is harmless. Someone’s trying to frame her. Poppy will need to work tirelessly to uncover the killer and put the case to rest—before Aunt Ginny has to trade in her B & B for a bunk bed behind bars . . .
Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!
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Midnight Snacks Are Murder is a delightful cozy mystery filled with all my favorite things…quirky characters, a great storyline to keep me guessing, and the perfect amount of romance!
Poppy came back to Cape May for her class reunion, never anticipating she would return to the place that held some of her most painful memories. She is beginning to accept and even embrace the charm of the beach town. Now, she is putting down roots with her Aunt Ginny, working on restoring their home to a bed and breakfast to help Aunt Ginny keep her independence. She is also expanding her gluten-free baking business as well. She not only has one man interested in her but two. Things seem to be looking up for her until her meddling mother-in-law comes to town, Aunt Ginny’s anxiety issues, and now a murder with Aunt Ginny as the prime subject. Everything else takes a backseat when she realizes she is her aunt’s only hope to staying out of jail.
Oh my goodness, I loved the characters. They were all so quirky and each added something to the book! Poppy is great character. I love her wit and sense of humor. God knows she is patient, dealing with Aunt Ginny and her mother-in-law Georgina, who seems intent on ruining her renovation plans and not wanting her to date even though her husband has been dead for almost a year. She is also a very realistic character with very real emotions and completely unsure about her feelings for both Tim and Gia.
Both Tim and Gia are great male romantic leads. Each has something valuable to bring to a relationship with Poppy. I want to be Aunt Ginny when I get to be her age. She is AWESOME!!! Georgina even shows a more sensitive side. Who can forget Figaro, Poppy’s faithful feline companion.
I really liked the way Libby Klein developed the mystery. The murder didn’t happen right off the bat. She really took her time developing the story that lead up to the murder. There is quite a list of suspects, many with more of a motive than Aunt Ginny. However, readers will see why she is at the top of the list. I certainly enjoyed the twists and turns.
Not only was this an entertaining read, but it also contained a bit of a deeper meaning. As Poppy comes to realize, not everything or every person is black or white. There are varying shades of gray. Each person has a side they chose to reveal in public, but as you look deeper, you will see that everyone is much more complex, with many different layers making up who they really are.
I’m really looking forward to returning to Cape May to see how the B & B progress is going and which man, Tim or Gia, will claim her heart.
Midnight Snacks Are Murder is HILARIOUS!! There are consistent laugh-out-loud moments throughout the entire book. Think of this: a pair of rival, macho men vying for the protagonist’s affection; an anxious little old lady who keeps popping pills whenever a stressful event occurs; a general contractor named Smitty who keeps breaking things and then declaring, “I can fix that!”; a diva ex-mother-in-law who gets on everyone’s nerves and can’t get the contractor’s name right; a cat named Figaro with a mind of his own; and a host of wacky, secondary characters with their own peculiarities that lend to the humorous tone of this book. A Cozy masterpiece.
Libby Klein is a genius!! I’m not kidding. I’ve read one of the two books she has written and she’s already on my must-read list. Reading her book was the highlight of my week!! Not only did she write a main character that was totally relatable and believable, she surrounded her with a wonderful combination of supportive characters. I found myself reading parts of it out loud to whomever was around me and they were as amused as I was. Not only that but it is so refreshing to have such a perfectly imperfect heroine as we find in Poppy. We get a new to the dating world grown up woman with a previous 20 years of marriage under her belt. At the end, there are gluten free and paleo friendly recipes that actually look good. The characters are described so well, I could easily cast them in my head (which is great because this totally needs to become a tv series). I cannot think of a single way this book could be improved upon. I read it in one sitting. I could not put it down no matter what.
Thank you so much to Kensington Books, NetGalley, and Libby Klein for the opportunity to read this incredible story and share my honest opinions with others.
Ohmigosh! Where do I begin! First, this book has everything I look for in a cozy mystery. It’s top-notch entertainment. The mystery is superb. I couldn’t guess the killer until the author revealed the connection that made revenge acceptable in the killer’s sick mind. I love all the characters that are lovable and dislike all the characters that are mean. I laughed-out-loud so much my sides hurt! Libby Klein is an author to watch, and her books are now automatic buys for this cozy reader.
Poppy McAllister is a sassy, wise-cracking, plus-size protagonist living in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey with her 80+ year old Aunt Ginny, whose health is still really good…let’s just say she needs supervision. Make that lots of supervision. Remodeling Aunt Ginny’s Old Victorian into Butterfly House Bed & Breakfast is hard on their nerves, plus their budget is tight. When Poppy’s mother-in-law, Georgina, arrives and adds her dictatorial and snoopy personality into the mix; the fur starts to fly. And, speaking of fur, wait’ll you see how Poppy’s cat, Figaro, handles the frenzy and chaos! I love this cat Lastly, I would give this book 10 Stars if I could. Definitely a keeper.
I read and reviewed an ARC provided by the author. Thank you.
Loved it. Aunt Ginny is hillarious! I still smile thinking about some of the scenes, and I finished the book a few days ago.
Midnight Snacks Are Murder is a great follow -up to the outstanding Reunions Are Murder! The stories completely different, accept for that murder thing and Aunt Ginny’s zaniness even when she is accused of murder. The characters feel realistic even when the situation gets a bit farfetched. The humor is well played where it could easily be over played. My only negative is that Poppy follow that cozy weakness of not always protecting herself when she goes into potentially dangerous situations
You have to read this book!! I can’t recall a book that I’ve read as quickly as this one. I finished over half the book in less than a day. I couldn’t put it down. I fell more in love with Poppy’s Aunt Ginny. I think every family should have a relative like her. Fun, sarcastic, down right hilarious.. and let’s add in a snarky in-law, a kitty that takes center stage when he wants and a even more exciting fight for attention between two handsome men and a police officer who would rather see Poppy behind bars than making them in her kitchen. I LOVE this book and can not wait for the next I the series. (Thank goodness I don’t have to wait long for it to come out)
Thank you Libby for what I hope to be a very long series of fun and sarcasm with a bunch of murder too
Midnight Snacks Are Murder
A Poppy McAllister Mystery, Book #2
Libby Klein
5+ Stars
Synopsis:
When her sleepwalking aunt is accused of committing murder, Poppy McAllister finds out there’s no rest for the weary . . .
Between trying to get her gluten-free baking business off the ground and helping her aunt remodel her old Victorian into the Butterfly House Bed and Breakfast in Cape May, New Jersey, Poppy is ready to call, “Mayday!” And now Aunt Ginny—who’s a handful wide-awake—is sleepwalking on her new sleeping pill prescription and helping herself to neighbors’ snacks and knickknacks.
Even more alarming, a local humanitarian who worked with troubled teens is found murdered, and the police suspect the “Snack Bandit.” Other than a bad case of midnight munchies and some mild knickknack kleptomania, Aunt Ginny is harmless. Someone’s trying to frame her. Poppy will need to work tirelessly to uncover the killer and put the case to rest—before Aunt Ginny has to trade in her B & B for a bunk bed behind bars . . .
Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen! (Goodreads)
Review:
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: she is nosy, can be pushy if need be and is persistent. I really enjoyed reading about the relationship between Poppy and Aunt Ginny, you can tell how much they love each other. Georgina, Poppy’s former mother-in-law, was a real pain and someone you love to hate. Even Smitty, the contractor, plays a role in this book. And Figaro, Poppy’s cat, is so funny and I think he stole the show. His “fainting” had me laughing through the whole 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 struggles with her weight (who doesn’t) and she has completely changed her eating habits. 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: engaging characters, a cozy setting, lots of humor and a tricky mystery. I would give this book more than 5 starts if I could. Be sure to check it out.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Midnight Snacks are Murder combines humor and mystery with just a dash of romance for the perfect recipe of a cozy mystery. The characters run from outrageous to adorable and all around fun. Aunt Gigi is a barrel of laughs as is the relationship between Poppy’s mother-in-law and the handyman. Poppy’s life is utter chaos between juggling her gluten-free baking business, setting up a bed and breakfast, and juggling two suitors. When Aunt Gigi’s medicine creates the snacking bandit, a dead body in a house full of food makes her the prime suspect. Poppy stumbles head first into a growing list of suspects while uncovering lies, fraud, and abuses. The story is a fast-paced, humorous cozy read that has made this girl a fan of Libby Klein. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
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. Which was true?
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. I did find a couple of the characters annoying, especially Poppy’s mother-in-law. Aunt Ginny provides lots of laughs, and the gluten-free, paleo friendly recipes at the end sound delicious.
If you pay attention you might just figure out the killer before the end!
This is the next installment in this series and I have loved each one. From the characters with a lot of issues, to the mystery that has to be solved to keep a loved one out of jail, each page unfolded new complexity. We also learn more about Georgina and why she is so rough on Poppy. I would have kicked her out of my life so much sooner than deal with that negativity. I also laughed at the relationship between Smitty (the handyman) and Georgina. I had my suspicions about the interaction between those two. Then there is the love triangle between Poppy, Tim, and Gia. I think I’m Team Gia.
This book has a lot of humor along with the mystery. I had a hard time putting the book down because with the characters that were presented, I had a hard time deciding who might be the guilty party until once scene which was an “ah-ha” moment for me.
Considering how some personal issues were resolved at the end of the book, I’m curious how the next book continues those story lines. Oh and let’s not forget the recipes at the end of the book. If you are on the Paleo diet you might want to check them out. They sound delicious!
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! 😀
Midnight Snacks are Murder is the sophomore follow-up to Libby Klein’s first Poppy McAllister Mystery, Class Reunions are Murder. Poppy has decided to settle in New Jersey to help Aunt Ginny convert her Victorian home into a Bed & Breakfast. Amid the construction, a neighborhood vandal has cropped up. The thief is breaking into homes in the middle of the night and eating snacks found in the kitchens and then taking a memento from the homes. When it’s discovered that the snack and memento bandit is none other than Aunt Ginny, Poppy has to figure out how to get a handle on things.
The situation goes from bad to worse though, when a local counselor for troubled teens is found dead in the middle of the thief’s latest B & E. Poppy knows that the meds Aunt Ginny has just begun taking are making her a sleepwalker – NOT a killer. So, while planning the remodel, trying to get settled into the new area, dealing with her mother-in-law who is now on premises, and getting a new business started, Poppy has another murder to solve.
Book two is just as wonderful as book one. Midnight Snacks are Murder pulled me in and kept me engaged from the very beginning. The author put a lot of thought and research into this book concerning both Poppy’s life but the life of her Aunt Ginny. Poppy is a wonderful main character. She’s not perfect, not supermodel thin, yet has a personality that is awesome. She’s a very realistic character, kind of a pushover when it comes to her mother-in-law, and funny. This book is full of wit, snark, and humor. Poppy’s Aunt Ginny is a such a quirky character, too. I loved her antics.
The strong character development and world building continues in Midnight Snacks are Murder. The book is written with realism that I could feel. I love how the author continues to develop Poppy. She uprooted herself from where she lived with her husband and took on the caretaker role for Aunt Ginny – who is healthy and spry but needs a little bit of looking after. She changes her diet, meets a new flame and reunites with an old flame, and begins new business ventures. The author takes these themes and combines them into one fantastic book.
This book is fun and a must read for all cozy mystery enthusiasts.
Tantalizing Cozy Mystery
This is such a good book. I have a few others from this author that have now been moved to the top of my TBR stack. This is a nice and long (300+ pages) book that never slows down. I love a long story that lets the reader savor the story and really get to know the characters.There is constant humor and snarkiness as well as murder. There are many moving pieces, but the reader never gets lost. One of the background pieces is a Teen center that works with kids with substance abuse issues and other ways that they are at risk. Our heroine is a baker who is starting up a bed and breakfast with her aunt and mother-in-law and quirky cat. This story just had everything! What it does not have is the thing I hate about cozies (and another reason I love this author), the author never goes on and on about fashion, food (not even her baking), knitting, the cat, or any of the other bazillion interested that cozy writers seem to wallow in. This book is fun and treats the reader like they can think on their own. I highly recommend this book, this series, and this author.
A fun read. Love Figaro, the cat!
What a fun series! I love visiting Poppy, Aunt Ginnie, and Figaro in Cape May. The bed and breakfast renovations are moving along. Aunt Ginnie is the star of this one. You need to add this series to your mystery list. Libby Klein’s books are so funny and entertaining.
I liked getting to know the characters, even if they are a little crazy. Looking forward to the next book.
I liked the characters. Good plot. Kept me guessing.
Original plot with fun characters.
Very real life incidents and funny at times. Enjoyed reading it. Lots of laugh and giggles.