Review by Sarah Erwin
Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.
A bit over 70 years young, Maddie Sparks is a retired librarian, cozy mystery author and now romance author. I am so glad to be back with Maddie in a third adventure, Claws for Concern, a cozy mystery by Lesley A. Diehl. Readers new to the series can jump in here, but don’t snooze on the first two entries in the series as they are lots of fun and provide insights into the cast of featured characters.
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| Image Source Epicenter Press Inc. |
This entry, like the first two in the series, has a strong, well-paced plot and several twists and turns. I had a slight guess as to who the true culprit was, but I sure couldn’t put the clues together without Maddie and Zack. It’s such a fascinating premise for a mom to investigate her son’s teenage past. And there’s no skimping on the action in this story – readers will encounter bitter cold, blizzard-like weather and arson, just to name a few!
I love how brave Maddie is – this time she’s a mom on a mission and nothing will stop her. And she’s so funny, too. I love when an author can successfully blend humor and mystery. I’m glad readers got to spend time with Maddie’s family as well, as those side characters are each unique and well-developed. And let’s not forget to give a shout out to Spike, Maddie’s adorable feline friend.
The writing includes all the cozy details of Maddie’s life, even in the midst of a murder investigation. I felt chilly when Maddie was chilly, and snug and warm by her fireplace when she was. The added element of snowy weather and power outages made this an atmospheric read. Certainly no spoilers here, but I give two thumbs up to the swoon-worthy ending.
Looking forward to more adventures with Maddie and crew in the future!
To enter to win a copy of Claws for Concern, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "Claws for Concern,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 13, 2025. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode goes up next week.
You can click here to purchase this book.
Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
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