Murder Mystery Round-up

This week I've gotten back into the swing of reading and have finished reading five books.

1. An Elderly Lady is Up To No Good by Helene Tursten. I finished this one two weeks ago, but it fits with the other mysteries. 88 year-old Maud lives in Gothenburg, Sweden and she likes her life just the way it is, thank you very much, and she isn't going to let murder get in the way of enjoying her life.
   
2. The Colour of Murder by Julian Symons. This book was originally published in 1957 and was recently re-published or something along those lines. The story is told in two parts: pre-murder and post-murder. In the first part, John Wilkins gives an account of his life, emotions, and psychological state and events immediately preceding the murder at a resort in Brighton. The second part of the story consists of his trial. John was married but met and fell in love with a younger woman. Looking at his wife, everything turned "the colour of murder". Did he really see red and commit the crime he is accused of committing?
   
3. Deadly Threads: A Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery by Jane K. Cleland. I picked this one up in a local Little Free Library. This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it very much. Josie Prescott runs an antique store in New Hampshire and has scheduled a series of events about vintage fashion. At the first event, the guest speaker is found dead under the podium, strangled with her own silk scarf. A pearl button found at the scene of the crime becomes a clue to the murder's identity. My favorite part of this novel was the description of the store's new Maine Coon, Hank. "It's Hank. He's upset. He batted his mouse under the copy machine. I can see it, but I can't reach it.' I looked at Hank. He didn't look upset. He looked curious. I glanced around the room for a tool and spotted an old wooden yardstick leaning against the wall near Sasha's desk'" (95). Substitute "refrigerator" for copy machine and you have a description of my cat Maggie's antics with her mice. 
   
4. Dolled Up for Murder. Another antiques mystery featuring Josie Prescott and her friends. An antique doll collection is being appraised for sale. A local woman buys it and is murdered soon after. While transporting the collection to the antiques store, one of Josie's employees is kidnapped and held for ransom until the dolls are turned over. 
   
5. Lethal Treasure is the Third Josie Prescott mystery I've read in as many days. This time, silent movie posters are the hot item. Josie and her interior designer friend Henri Dubois bid on storage units. Henri is found murdered in the storage unit he won in the bid. The contents of the storage unit and its previous owner may provide clues to identify the murderer. 
   
   I like this cover because it features Hank. Hank does not help solve the mysteries. He lives in the antique store and appears for belly rubs, pats, and games of fetch with his mice.