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Cackleberry Club #9
Egg Shooters
A murder in the local hospital is raising everyone's temperature in the latest book in the New York Times bestselling Cackleberry Club series.
Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club Café, is visiting her fiancé, Dr. Sam Hazelet, when a masked gunman bursts into the emergency room. He shoots two people and would probably have done more damage had Suzanne not brained him with a thermos full of chili. Still, the gunman manages to escape.
Now the ladies of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he finds them.
Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club Café, is visiting her fiancé, Dr. Sam Hazelet, when a masked gunman bursts into the emergency room. He shoots two people and would probably have done more damage had Suzanne not brained him with a thermos full of chili. Still, the gunman manages to escape.
Now the ladies of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he finds them.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 26, 2021
About the author
Laura Childs
91 books2,138 followersLaura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt and she is the best-selling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, the Scrapbook Mysteries, and the Cackleberry Club Mysteries.
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:
The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She's also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn't rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
The Scrapbooking Mysteries - a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans' spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!
The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe's undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
Laura Childs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries, Scrapbook Mysteries, and Cackleberry Club Mysteries. In her previous life she was CEO/Creative Director of her own marketing firm and authored several screenplays. She is married to a professor of Chinese art history, loves to travel, rides horses, enjoys fund raising for various non-profits, and has two Chinese Shar-Pei dogs.
Laura specializes in cozy mysteries that have the pace of a thriller (a thrillzy!) Her three series are:
The Tea Shop Mysteries - set in the historic district of Charleston and featuring Theodosia Browning, owner of the Indigo Tea Shop. Theodosia is a savvy entrepreneur, and pet mom to service dog Earl Grey. She's also an intelligent, focused amateur sleuth who doesn't rely on coincidences or inept police work to solve crimes. This charming series is highly atmospheric and rife with the history and mystery that is Charleston.
The Scrapbooking Mysteries - a slightly edgier series that take place in New Orleans. The main character, Carmela, owns Memory Mine scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter and is forever getting into trouble with her friend, Ava, who owns the Juju Voodoo shop. New Orleans' spooky above-ground cemeteries, jazz clubs, bayous, and Mardi Gras madness make their presence known here!
The Cackleberry Club Mysteries - set in Kindred, a fictional town in the Midwest. In a rehabbed Spur station, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra, three semi-desperate, forty-plus women have launched the Cackleberry Club. Eggs are the morning specialty here and this cozy cafe even offers a book nook and yarn shop. Business is good but murder could lead to the cafe's undoing! This series offers recipes, knitting, cake decorating, and a dash of spirituality.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
September 1, 2021
This is a cozy mystery, and this is the 9th book in the Cackleberry Club series. I have not read books 1 to 8 in this series. I have to say I enjoyed the mystery in this book, but I do not care about the characters. I really love books that has really good character developed and characters I really end up caring about. I found this book just ok. I did really like the narrator of this audiobook. I was kindly provided an e-audiobook of this book by the publisher (Dreamscape Media and Berkley Books) or author (Laura Childs) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
February 2, 2021
You know how you wish some of your favorite books would be made into a movie?
For the Cackleberry Club I want a whole television series!
I love the characters. Toni would be so much fun to watch weekly.
The settings are comfy with a touch of glamour, especially the food.
And the action never stops!
Suzanne is intelligent and curious, observant and generous. She can not help herself from getting involved, whether in community events or dangerous investigations.
And she can not stop her brain from running through endless possibilities. I enjoyed being privy to those runaway thoughts.
The book opens plunging us immediately into action and tragedy. The mysteries compound quickly, with hijackings, murder, drug related crimes and mysterious disappearance among them.
Suspects are found on every page! When you think you have something figured out, you will begin to doubt your choices as more evidence comes to light.
I hope we do not have to wait long to revisit Kindred.
For the Cackleberry Club I want a whole television series!
I love the characters. Toni would be so much fun to watch weekly.
The settings are comfy with a touch of glamour, especially the food.
And the action never stops!
Suzanne is intelligent and curious, observant and generous. She can not help herself from getting involved, whether in community events or dangerous investigations.
And she can not stop her brain from running through endless possibilities. I enjoyed being privy to those runaway thoughts.
The book opens plunging us immediately into action and tragedy. The mysteries compound quickly, with hijackings, murder, drug related crimes and mysterious disappearance among them.
Suspects are found on every page! When you think you have something figured out, you will begin to doubt your choices as more evidence comes to light.
I hope we do not have to wait long to revisit Kindred.
December 28, 2020
A cozy mystery that is action packed right from the start with multiple crimes happening that may or may not be connected, the fabulous cast of characters led by a main character that is intelligent, witty and a strong female is just what you need to pick up for your next entertaining read! While you could absolutely read this book as a stand alone, you would be missing out on tons of back story and entertainment so I really recommend starting with the first book in the series. The excellent news is that the entire series is available via audio book and the narrator does an excellent job of taking the author's well written plot and superbly created characters to the next level and helping breathe life into them! I will now be impatiently awaiting the next book in the series!
December 10, 2020
EGG SHOOTERS is the ninth book in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series by Laura Childs. One of the hallmarks of the books written by Ms. Childs is her ability to start the story off with a bang, and in this case it’s a literal bang. The action and mystery are foremost and draws the reader in, making them want to know what happens next. That said, I found this particular book to be a bit jarring with the opening random violence that’s targeted against innocent people. As the story progresses and as the protagonist, Suzanne Dietz, and her two friends investigate, the reasoning for the violence becomes clearer, albeit not any more palatable. I also thought that Suzanne took too many unrealistic and harebrained chances in her investigation. While she may have come through unscathed, she left emotional upheaval in her wake that left me feeling uncomfortable. I did enjoy the relationship and repartee between the three friends and the setting of the Cackleberry Club Café is charming as well as delicious. The mystery itself is well-paced and there were enough clues and suspects to keep me guessing. With a heart-pounding reveal, the threads of the plot come together into a cohesive story.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 26, 2021
It has been awhile since I visited with the Cackleberry clan and I wasn't disappointed. I love this series and each new book gets better and better. Suzanne and Toni get into several scrapes while Petra cooks up a storm in the kitchen for full menus. Junior is growing on me, but I have developed quite the fondness for Sheriff Doogie. I didn't anticipate the villain so Child's did a good job with the mystery. The recipes in the back are some of the best yet. Thanks to Edelweiss and Berkley for the advance copy.
February 6, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Shots are fired in a hospital, no less, as this ninth Cackleberry Club Mystery gets underway. Cackleberry Club co-owner Suzanne Dietz was ducking for cover as two people fell struck by bullets. In a moment of pure genius, rage, and adrenalin, Suzanne stuns the shooter with a thermos full of chili meant to have been lunch for her fiancée, Dr. Sam Hazelet. Down but not out the shooter escapes with a duffle bag of drugs stolen from the hospital pharmacy. The gunman was dressed in military gear and wore a mask so Suzanne couldn’t give much info to identify the suspect but that doesn’t mean she, Toni, and Petra aren’t going to pull out all the stops to catch the shooter before they kill again.
I love Suzanne, Toni, and Petra and glad they are back after a bit of a break. These ladies are so genuine and have huge hearts. They are always ready to support a person or cause that comes into their orbit. They are exactly who you would expect to meet when you walk into a small-town Midwest cafe. They give a friendly welcome and try to add a smile to get your day off to a great start. The food they serve up is top-notch too. Supporting characters Dr. Sam, Junior, and Sheriff Dougie all bring diverse personalities to the story. These men couldn’t be more different from each other just like our leading ladies so they are a perfect fit for this series.
Ms. Childs really twisted things up this time. Suzanne is completed invested in finding the shooter so she doesn’t always make wise decisions and she jumped to a few conclusions without the evidence to back them up. I had to stop and take a second to shake my head at one event that was crazy and downright unbelievable but centered myself with the point that the story is fiction, meant to entertain and it sure did that and the event did really move the story forward so I accepted the situation and moved on. The scene was exciting and it was fun to live vicariously through the adventure the characters were caught up in. The author does blend the subplots with the main plot with an expert hand. She brings the book to a conclusion in a thrilling way that I know raised my blood pressure.
Egg Shooters is an egg-traordinary addition to this series and I have enjoyed every one. We are also treated to tempting recipes that were mentioned in the story at the end of the book. I am very excited for the next installment of this series.
Shots are fired in a hospital, no less, as this ninth Cackleberry Club Mystery gets underway. Cackleberry Club co-owner Suzanne Dietz was ducking for cover as two people fell struck by bullets. In a moment of pure genius, rage, and adrenalin, Suzanne stuns the shooter with a thermos full of chili meant to have been lunch for her fiancée, Dr. Sam Hazelet. Down but not out the shooter escapes with a duffle bag of drugs stolen from the hospital pharmacy. The gunman was dressed in military gear and wore a mask so Suzanne couldn’t give much info to identify the suspect but that doesn’t mean she, Toni, and Petra aren’t going to pull out all the stops to catch the shooter before they kill again.
I love Suzanne, Toni, and Petra and glad they are back after a bit of a break. These ladies are so genuine and have huge hearts. They are always ready to support a person or cause that comes into their orbit. They are exactly who you would expect to meet when you walk into a small-town Midwest cafe. They give a friendly welcome and try to add a smile to get your day off to a great start. The food they serve up is top-notch too. Supporting characters Dr. Sam, Junior, and Sheriff Dougie all bring diverse personalities to the story. These men couldn’t be more different from each other just like our leading ladies so they are a perfect fit for this series.
Ms. Childs really twisted things up this time. Suzanne is completed invested in finding the shooter so she doesn’t always make wise decisions and she jumped to a few conclusions without the evidence to back them up. I had to stop and take a second to shake my head at one event that was crazy and downright unbelievable but centered myself with the point that the story is fiction, meant to entertain and it sure did that and the event did really move the story forward so I accepted the situation and moved on. The scene was exciting and it was fun to live vicariously through the adventure the characters were caught up in. The author does blend the subplots with the main plot with an expert hand. She brings the book to a conclusion in a thrilling way that I know raised my blood pressure.
Egg Shooters is an egg-traordinary addition to this series and I have enjoyed every one. We are also treated to tempting recipes that were mentioned in the story at the end of the book. I am very excited for the next installment of this series.
June 12, 2021
I received this audio book from #NetGalley and the publisher, #DreamscapeMedia. Gotta say I loved it! Of course, I'm a sucker for the cozy mysteries of the world. I liked the characters even though I haven't read more of the books in the series, yet. After I do, I'm sure I will grow to love the quirky characters.
The writing is engaging and the audio reader is brilliant! The story is fast paced with mysteries left and right. Awesome read!!
The writing is engaging and the audio reader is brilliant! The story is fast paced with mysteries left and right. Awesome read!!
December 6, 2020
"Egg Shooters " the 9th instalment in the "Cackleberry Club" Mystery series by Laura Childs. It has been awhile since I read the series having only read up to book 6, but I really enjoyed visiting Kindred and the Cackleberry Club Cafe again.
The story starts off with a bang literally, with the shooting at the hospital, I think with everything that’s been happening in America right now some aspects of the book could unsettle some people. It touches on PTSD as well as drug addiction but not in any great detail.
Now with that all said I did really enjoy this story, and it has made me want to catch up on the series. The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. I especially love the dynamics between Suzanne, Toni and Petra as they are so different from each other but meld perfectly together.
I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit, I did suspect the killer for a quick second then thought no way. I also suspected the getaway vehicle from the beginning and was why aren’t they thinking of this.
Now I loved the recipes that are included in the back of the book.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story starts off with a bang literally, with the shooting at the hospital, I think with everything that’s been happening in America right now some aspects of the book could unsettle some people. It touches on PTSD as well as drug addiction but not in any great detail.
Now with that all said I did really enjoy this story, and it has made me want to catch up on the series. The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. I especially love the dynamics between Suzanne, Toni and Petra as they are so different from each other but meld perfectly together.
I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit, I did suspect the killer for a quick second then thought no way. I also suspected the getaway vehicle from the beginning and was why aren’t they thinking of this.
Now I loved the recipes that are included in the back of the book.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 15, 2021
When Suzanne decides to take a thermos of chili to Sam at the hospital, she walks into an armed robbery. After the thief kills the security guard and injures the receptionist, Suzanne throws the chili at the thief who makes a remarkable getaway. Suzanne and her friend Toni will get into a couple of situations as they "assist" Sheriff Doogie and his deputies into the investigation into the robbery and into a series of truck hijackings. I pegged the killer early on, and the red herrings never really threw me off. It's a fun cozy mystery although pretty low on the believability scale. (3.5 stars)
March 23, 2023
Cozy mystery set in a small town village restaurant. Some recipes included.
December 31, 2020
It has been a few years since the last Cackleberry Club story, but these ladies were as fun and fresh as always. This is the ninth book in the series and even though each mystery is self-contained, you will enjoy this story more if you are familiar with the characters and the journey they have taken together. Egg Shooters starts off with a bang literally, with the shooting at the hospital. He kills the security guard and shoots the receptionist, before Suzanne throws a thermos of chili at him and he takes off. Suzanne chases him, but he has disappeared. Where did he go? It seems like he was robbing the pharmacy and a nurse in that area is also injured. The wife of the victim has asked Suzanne to help solve the crime, so what can she do?
This series has a great cast of characters led by a main character that is intelligent, witty and a strong female protagonist. Suzanne and Toni get into several scrapes while Petra cooks up a storm in the kitchen for the Cackleberry Cafe. I love Sheriff Dougie. I love his "southernisms" and his laid back personality, even though he is pretty smart. The setting is wonderful and I love the quirky town and secondary characters. This story was face paced and well-plotted. Suzanne had some great intuition in this one as she put together motives and suspects. Suzanne's investigation in this one was a bit different from others in this series, as there was a lot of turmoil and emotional distress caused by her questioning and accusations. Once again, there is danger and Suzanne takes some chances that were ill advised, but she comes through unscathed. There are a few side stories in this one, but they all come together in the end with the exciting reveal. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Susan Boyce, a voice actress who narrates a lot of cozy mysteries. She is a narrator who I listen to quite a bit. She does a great job on the voices and expression in the story. She makes books I listen to very enjoyable. I enjoyed this one and recommend this series to those who enjoy cozy mysteries. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
This series has a great cast of characters led by a main character that is intelligent, witty and a strong female protagonist. Suzanne and Toni get into several scrapes while Petra cooks up a storm in the kitchen for the Cackleberry Cafe. I love Sheriff Dougie. I love his "southernisms" and his laid back personality, even though he is pretty smart. The setting is wonderful and I love the quirky town and secondary characters. This story was face paced and well-plotted. Suzanne had some great intuition in this one as she put together motives and suspects. Suzanne's investigation in this one was a bit different from others in this series, as there was a lot of turmoil and emotional distress caused by her questioning and accusations. Once again, there is danger and Suzanne takes some chances that were ill advised, but she comes through unscathed. There are a few side stories in this one, but they all come together in the end with the exciting reveal. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Susan Boyce, a voice actress who narrates a lot of cozy mysteries. She is a narrator who I listen to quite a bit. She does a great job on the voices and expression in the story. She makes books I listen to very enjoyable. I enjoyed this one and recommend this series to those who enjoy cozy mysteries. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
February 12, 2021
I don’t know about you, but it feels like it’s been absolute ages since I’ve read the last book in this series. So when this book landed in my hands, I was very excited.
It took me a bit to get back into this world because of it’s long absence, but Childs writing doesn’t allow for things to dally too long. There’s a surprising amount of action and suspense and this is one of my favorite parts of Childs’ writing style. I love that there’s more thrilling points in this book because it definitely gets the heart rate going and improves the pacing. So even though this is technically a Cozy Mystery, this book does have a fair amount of action. Definitely more than what you would normally see in a typical Cozy Mystery.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Laura Childs. She’s one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors and if you haven’t read any of her books yet, then you’re definitely missing out! She’s the best in the genre!
Reviewed by Ann❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
March 2, 2021
This may be the end of the line for me with this series. Cozy mysteries always require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. For me, this series has crossed into territory that stretches that suspension too far.
For example, Suzanne has a pretty definite understanding of lightweight, personal aircraft, but isn't familiar with ballistics testing? What, she never read a mystery book or watched a crime drama on TV? And she hasn't encountered even hearing about that in the previous 8 books' worth of time?
She also apparently has absolutely no insight into PTSD. She's in her 40s, engaged to a doctor, and supposedly intelligent.
How does she always get away with stuff, including trespassing multiple times on multiple properties? How does she always finagle investigation information out of Doogie? It really only takes asking firmly a second time.
Sam rightly castigates her on her foolish and dangerous antics (more on that in a moment), but then she nearly smiles and moves on.
Worst of all is Suzanne's & Toni's penchant for doing stupid stuff, like going to dangerous places at night, places where others have been hurt or that are purported to be seriously dangerous, and tell no one. For one of these incidents, they get huffy when confronted for endangering others. There's some serious arrogance going on to react as they did. Twice in this book book, this duo did something for "too stupid to live" heroines. And they keep saying Junior is the idiot. Honestly, I think Petra is the only one with any common sense.
The culprits became obvious pretty quickly, too. And Suzanne showed an alarming lack of rational thought regarding people and situations on too many occasions to recall.
So, I'm likely done with this series, and perhaps with the author as well, since this was the only series of hers I've enjoyed enough to keep up with.
For example, Suzanne has a pretty definite understanding of lightweight, personal aircraft, but isn't familiar with ballistics testing? What, she never read a mystery book or watched a crime drama on TV? And she hasn't encountered even hearing about that in the previous 8 books' worth of time?
She also apparently has absolutely no insight into PTSD. She's in her 40s, engaged to a doctor, and supposedly intelligent.
How does she always get away with stuff, including trespassing multiple times on multiple properties? How does she always finagle investigation information out of Doogie? It really only takes asking firmly a second time.
Sam rightly castigates her on her foolish and dangerous antics (more on that in a moment), but then she nearly smiles and moves on.
Worst of all is Suzanne's & Toni's penchant for doing stupid stuff, like going to dangerous places at night, places where others have been hurt or that are purported to be seriously dangerous, and tell no one. For one of these incidents, they get huffy when confronted for endangering others. There's some serious arrogance going on to react as they did. Twice in this book book, this duo did something for "too stupid to live" heroines. And they keep saying Junior is the idiot. Honestly, I think Petra is the only one with any common sense.
The culprits became obvious pretty quickly, too. And Suzanne showed an alarming lack of rational thought regarding people and situations on too many occasions to recall.
So, I'm likely done with this series, and perhaps with the author as well, since this was the only series of hers I've enjoyed enough to keep up with.
December 16, 2020
Suzanne, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club, is taking dinner to her fiance at the hospital when a masked gunman barrels down the hall toward her. He kills the security guard and shoots the receptionist, before Suzanne throws a thermos of chili at him and he takes off. She runs outside after him, but doesn't see or hear anyone running. Suzanne takes it upon herself to figure out who the gunman is, to her own peril.
I have read one other book in the series and enjoyed it, but I feel this was rather lacking. The story starts off very quickly - we are in the hospital with Suzanne right away, facing the masked man. No lead up, just BAM! Which is fine!
But I feel like the book was lacking. Every time I turned around, Suzanne was assuming something and I didn't see where she was coming from. She KNEW the gunman was robbing the pharmacy (a good guess, but in a town with little crime, why would that be her first thought?). She KNEW the cute "boy" from the church was leaving her roses (3 people own the cafe...why did the anonymous rose have to be for her from him?). She KNEW that the house with the cop cars present had to be there due to the shooting at the hospital. I just felt that the audiobook was abridged because it seemed some things were missing. Maybe that was just me. I also wasn't very fond of the characters. Suzanne seemed rather conceited. Toni seemed a flake. And Petra was the church-going uber religious one that was supposed to balance it all out. Maybe if I'd read more in the series, I would've liked it more.
I did enjoy the narration, and felt that she did a good job of changing characters. However that might have been the best part of this book.
I have read one other book in the series and enjoyed it, but I feel this was rather lacking. The story starts off very quickly - we are in the hospital with Suzanne right away, facing the masked man. No lead up, just BAM! Which is fine!
But I feel like the book was lacking. Every time I turned around, Suzanne was assuming something and I didn't see where she was coming from. She KNEW the gunman was robbing the pharmacy (a good guess, but in a town with little crime, why would that be her first thought?). She KNEW the cute "boy" from the church was leaving her roses (3 people own the cafe...why did the anonymous rose have to be for her from him?). She KNEW that the house with the cop cars present had to be there due to the shooting at the hospital. I just felt that the audiobook was abridged because it seemed some things were missing. Maybe that was just me. I also wasn't very fond of the characters. Suzanne seemed rather conceited. Toni seemed a flake. And Petra was the church-going uber religious one that was supposed to balance it all out. Maybe if I'd read more in the series, I would've liked it more.
I did enjoy the narration, and felt that she did a good job of changing characters. However that might have been the best part of this book.
December 29, 2020
Of Laura Childs' three series, this is my favorite. The characters are great, the setting is inviting (although I always think it's so cold there!), and the murders/investigation are more plausible. I loved this latest installment. The story was fast paced and kept you involved. Suzanne and her friends are smart and don't do too many things that might get them killed. A good addition to the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
#DreamscapeMedia #NetGalley
I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
#DreamscapeMedia #NetGalley
April 5, 2021
Tbh, this book would have been a 4 star review, except that Suzanne is getting a lot sloppier and more judgmental as the series goes one. She’s taking greater risks than she needs to, and I know it’s only a book, but it’s annoying the bad decisions she’s making and the situations she’s getting herself and Toni into.
February 12, 2021
Suzanne, Petra, and Toni are the co-owners of the Cackleberry Club - a small-town eatery, brimming with deliciously mouthwatering breakfast fantasies. The three women are best friends and co-workers and besides baking and cooking, brewing coffee and tea they also run a book club and a yarn shop, often hosting tea parties and gatherings for special occasions. In this instalment, Suzanne is taking dinner to her fiancé, Dr Sam Hazelet who is working in the busy ER department at the hospital. When a masked gunman suddenly appears and starts heading towards her he chucks Sam's dinner in his face - piping hot chilli - but a security guard winds up dead, the receptionist is wounded and the pharmacy is robbed. The Cackleberry Club crew investigate.
My first read in this delightful series, Egg Shooters was charming and intriguing. As the Sheriff investigates truck hijackings, drug robberies, and now a murder to boot, Suzanne continues to plan and execute events for the Cackleberry Club, helping to serve their mouthwatering dishes, alongside getting involved in multitudinous escapades and potentially dangerous situations.
In a tale packed to the rafters with intrigue, adventure, and fun, the mystery element had a few twists, holding my interest and keeping me keen to continue reading. Laura Childs' novel highlighted current societal issues, in particular, drug addiction. I enjoyed deciphering the clues alongside the Cackleberry Club sleuths as well as the camaraderie they showed. The main protagonist, Suzanne demonstrated great intuitiveness as she searched for suspects and possible motives. There were a few different plot threads in Egg Shooters but they all came together in the thrilling finale.
This ninth book in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series is fabulous, fast-paced, and fun and food-lovers will adore the recipes included. I, for one, can't wait to try the scrumptious sounding Blueberry Banana Bread. I'll be reading the other books as well as the next book, Eggs Over Uneasy in this compelling series and here's hoping I enjoy them as much as Egg Shooters!
Thanks to Berkley Books, Great Escapes Book Tours and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.
My first read in this delightful series, Egg Shooters was charming and intriguing. As the Sheriff investigates truck hijackings, drug robberies, and now a murder to boot, Suzanne continues to plan and execute events for the Cackleberry Club, helping to serve their mouthwatering dishes, alongside getting involved in multitudinous escapades and potentially dangerous situations.
In a tale packed to the rafters with intrigue, adventure, and fun, the mystery element had a few twists, holding my interest and keeping me keen to continue reading. Laura Childs' novel highlighted current societal issues, in particular, drug addiction. I enjoyed deciphering the clues alongside the Cackleberry Club sleuths as well as the camaraderie they showed. The main protagonist, Suzanne demonstrated great intuitiveness as she searched for suspects and possible motives. There were a few different plot threads in Egg Shooters but they all came together in the thrilling finale.
This ninth book in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series is fabulous, fast-paced, and fun and food-lovers will adore the recipes included. I, for one, can't wait to try the scrumptious sounding Blueberry Banana Bread. I'll be reading the other books as well as the next book, Eggs Over Uneasy in this compelling series and here's hoping I enjoy them as much as Egg Shooters!
Thanks to Berkley Books, Great Escapes Book Tours and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.
April 4, 2021
Fun cozy that follows the adventures of restaurant owner Suzanne and her two friends. As a witness to a drug related murder in a hospital, Suzanne just has to help the local sheriff solve the crime. A good relaxing read!
August 31, 2020
Laura Childs' latest offering in the Cackleberry Club mystery series; entitled Egg Shooters.
Didn't manage to land anywhere near the unputdownable read target this go round.
Though all of the usual suspects and just enough new ones to make the story at least somewhat plausible. Were present and accounted for. With leading lady, Suzanne Dietz, front and center. Always managing to be in the wrong place at just the right time to bear witness to a murder.
This being her 9th.
I tell you...
It's high time that someone traded in her chef's hat and tea cozy for a sheriff's badge and a gun.
But I digress.
So...
We have Suzanne, minding her own business. Just stopping in at the hospital to bring her fiance some chili. When a gunman enters the waiting room. Shoots both the nurse and the security guard
Killing the poor guard.
But miracle of miracles.
Suzanne is not only unharmed. But is also able to send our murderous assailant running for the hills. After she manages to hit him in the face with a thermos full of lunch.
Time to trot out the suspects and innuendo.
And make the introductions of those "new people in town".
Who could very well have ties to either the murder or the underlying reason that contributed to said murder.
Which in this case is drugs.
Now that the proverbial chessboard has been set.
All we have to do is sit and watch as the pieces move along their prescribed routes.
Starting with our heroine wanting to "help solve the case".
And ending with her outsmarting both the sheriff and the killer.
Almost getting herself killed...
But not...AGAIN!
And managing to singlehandedly solve yet another murder. In the sleepy little town where "things like this just don't happen."
Oh...
And there are recipes In the back.
In short.
Though this book is undoubtedly well written. The story is...
More boring than watching paint dry in Siberia.
Let's face it.
The best part of the whole ordeal is the murder.
SMH!!!
Better luck next time Miss Childs.
Because apparently, nine times is not the charm.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing the review copy on which this honest critique is based.
Didn't manage to land anywhere near the unputdownable read target this go round.
Though all of the usual suspects and just enough new ones to make the story at least somewhat plausible. Were present and accounted for. With leading lady, Suzanne Dietz, front and center. Always managing to be in the wrong place at just the right time to bear witness to a murder.
This being her 9th.
I tell you...
It's high time that someone traded in her chef's hat and tea cozy for a sheriff's badge and a gun.
But I digress.
So...
We have Suzanne, minding her own business. Just stopping in at the hospital to bring her fiance some chili. When a gunman enters the waiting room. Shoots both the nurse and the security guard
Killing the poor guard.
But miracle of miracles.
Suzanne is not only unharmed. But is also able to send our murderous assailant running for the hills. After she manages to hit him in the face with a thermos full of lunch.
Time to trot out the suspects and innuendo.
And make the introductions of those "new people in town".
Who could very well have ties to either the murder or the underlying reason that contributed to said murder.
Which in this case is drugs.
Now that the proverbial chessboard has been set.
All we have to do is sit and watch as the pieces move along their prescribed routes.
Starting with our heroine wanting to "help solve the case".
And ending with her outsmarting both the sheriff and the killer.
Almost getting herself killed...
But not...AGAIN!
And managing to singlehandedly solve yet another murder. In the sleepy little town where "things like this just don't happen."
Oh...
And there are recipes In the back.
In short.
Though this book is undoubtedly well written. The story is...
More boring than watching paint dry in Siberia.
Let's face it.
The best part of the whole ordeal is the murder.
SMH!!!
Better luck next time Miss Childs.
Because apparently, nine times is not the charm.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing the review copy on which this honest critique is based.
February 7, 2021
I don’t know about you, but it feels like it’s been absolute ages since I’ve read the last book in this series. So when this book landed in my hands, I was very excited.
It took me a bit to get back into this world because of it’s long absence, but Childs writing doesn’t allow for things to dally too long. There’s a surprising amount of action and suspense and this is one of my favorite parts of Childs’ writing style. I love that there’s more thrilling points in this book because it definitely gets the heart rate going and improves the pacing. So even though this is technically a Cozy Mystery, this book does have a fair amount of action. Definitely more than what you would normally see in a typical Cozy Mystery.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more of Laura Childs. She’s one of my favorite Cozy Mystery authors and if you haven’t read any of her books yet, then you’re definitely missing out! She’s the best in the genre!
March 18, 2021
It has been since 2018 when the last book in the series was released and EGG SHOOTERS, and after reading this, I might be done with the series. The characters are flat with no movement forward. Suzanne and Sam are still engaged, Toni and Junior are still married but not together (and more annoying than ever), and Petra is not featured nearly enough. The events have become too far fetched, Suzanne's actions to stupid. I am a Laura Childs fan so this is painful.
February 17, 2021
"Whoever this maniac is, he's been leading us on a merry chase. And he seems to be enjoying it enormously."
Egg Shooters by Laura Childs is the ninth book in The Cackleberry Club Mystery Series. And WOW! What a ride!
I've always wanted to read Laura Childs' books and got to interview her in 2019 for her then-new-book Broken Bone China. Then in 2020, I got a glimpse of her writing – and stunning teas and desserts in Lavender Blue Murder.
Since then, I've been curious about The Cackleberry Club books. And what a read! I loved the mystery, characters, settings, and let's not get to the mouth-watering delicacies Petra can make!
Egg Shooters opens with action from the first chapter. Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of The Cackleberry Club Café is visiting her fiancé, an ER doctor, and bringing him some late lunch. While she's talking to the receptionist, a gunman comes in, shoots a security guard, the receptionist, and is hit on the head with Suzanne's thermos of hot chili.
"What's our own Nancy Drew gonna do about these robberies? You're the one with the head for crime solving. You've got the sharpest instincts in town, though Doogie would die a slow death if he ever heard me say that."
Suzanne is a lot of things but curious and creative top the list. Especially when it comes to defending herself and others.
So the book opens with a murder, a theft, and luckily the receptionist lives. But at the same time, truck hijacking is plaguing the small town of Kindred.
After the shootout, Suzanne's curiosity is piqued, and of course, a few townsfolk ask her to investigate. They know that her skills top the Sheriff Doogie's and deep down the Sheriff knows he could use a helping hand. But never admits it.
The Cackleberry Club is comprised of three co-owners: Suzanne, Toni, and Petra. Each has their quirks but Toni is by far the funniest!
"Petra was the social conscience of the Cackleberry Club, while Toni served as court jester, and Suzanne was CEO, marketing guru, and chief problem solver."
The mystery in Egg Shooters kept me glued to the book. I couldn't put it down. Not to mention Petra's mouth-watering dishes.
If there's ever a café or restaurant like The Cackleberry Club, I'm saving to go there.
I loved how the characters are both strong and deep in their own way, even Toni. I also liked how this cozy mystery shows the characters – in a way – trying to work with the police. Well – sort of.
Toni offers a ton of humor in Egg Shooters, from hilarious comments, her endless to-and-fro with her no-good-soon-to-be-divorced-absolute-kid-brained husband, to her antics and energy. Here's how she describes a new character who walks into their café:
"Who's the Daddy Warbucks type sitting over there with our diddly-squat-do-nothing mayor?"
The book also offers a number of recipes at the end of the book. Courtesy of the chef extraordinaire Petra.
I also learnt a new word: Sesquicentennial – don't ask me how to pronounce it because I failed but it means someone's or something 150th birthday – in this case it was their town's celebration. (That was worth mentioning!)
Overall I loved The Cackleberry Club, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra along with the supporting characters. I just fell in love with this series and can't wait to read more books in it.
Egg Shooters by Laura Childs is the ninth book in The Cackleberry Club Mystery Series. And WOW! What a ride!
I've always wanted to read Laura Childs' books and got to interview her in 2019 for her then-new-book Broken Bone China. Then in 2020, I got a glimpse of her writing – and stunning teas and desserts in Lavender Blue Murder.
Since then, I've been curious about The Cackleberry Club books. And what a read! I loved the mystery, characters, settings, and let's not get to the mouth-watering delicacies Petra can make!
Egg Shooters opens with action from the first chapter. Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of The Cackleberry Club Café is visiting her fiancé, an ER doctor, and bringing him some late lunch. While she's talking to the receptionist, a gunman comes in, shoots a security guard, the receptionist, and is hit on the head with Suzanne's thermos of hot chili.
"What's our own Nancy Drew gonna do about these robberies? You're the one with the head for crime solving. You've got the sharpest instincts in town, though Doogie would die a slow death if he ever heard me say that."
Suzanne is a lot of things but curious and creative top the list. Especially when it comes to defending herself and others.
So the book opens with a murder, a theft, and luckily the receptionist lives. But at the same time, truck hijacking is plaguing the small town of Kindred.
After the shootout, Suzanne's curiosity is piqued, and of course, a few townsfolk ask her to investigate. They know that her skills top the Sheriff Doogie's and deep down the Sheriff knows he could use a helping hand. But never admits it.
The Cackleberry Club is comprised of three co-owners: Suzanne, Toni, and Petra. Each has their quirks but Toni is by far the funniest!
"Petra was the social conscience of the Cackleberry Club, while Toni served as court jester, and Suzanne was CEO, marketing guru, and chief problem solver."
The mystery in Egg Shooters kept me glued to the book. I couldn't put it down. Not to mention Petra's mouth-watering dishes.
If there's ever a café or restaurant like The Cackleberry Club, I'm saving to go there.
I loved how the characters are both strong and deep in their own way, even Toni. I also liked how this cozy mystery shows the characters – in a way – trying to work with the police. Well – sort of.
Toni offers a ton of humor in Egg Shooters, from hilarious comments, her endless to-and-fro with her no-good-soon-to-be-divorced-absolute-kid-brained husband, to her antics and energy. Here's how she describes a new character who walks into their café:
"Who's the Daddy Warbucks type sitting over there with our diddly-squat-do-nothing mayor?"
The book also offers a number of recipes at the end of the book. Courtesy of the chef extraordinaire Petra.
I also learnt a new word: Sesquicentennial – don't ask me how to pronounce it because I failed but it means someone's or something 150th birthday – in this case it was their town's celebration. (That was worth mentioning!)
Overall I loved The Cackleberry Club, Suzanne, Toni, and Petra along with the supporting characters. I just fell in love with this series and can't wait to read more books in it.
March 14, 2021
Suzanne is at the hospital, ready to bring Sam some supper when all the sudden there is glass breaking and screaming. Down the hall comes a masked robber, fresh from grabbing drugs from the pharmacy. As he shoots his way out, Suzanne's new adventure starts. Not only does she cope with several events at the Cackleberry Club, she also solves the mystery of a truck hijacking and the hospital robbery. Along the way, as usual, she bullies Sheriff Doogie into letting her help and gets away with all kinds of things that she never would in real life.
February 19, 2021
4.5 stars
This is the ninth book in the Cackleberry Club series by Laura Childs.
I thought this was a good concept for a mystery although egg shooters do sound kind of gross. This had a strong female lead and an excellent pacing. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Suzanne thought she was bringing her doctor fiancee a thermos of chili and ended up throwing it at a thief after the meds in the pharmacy. This set her on the road to finding out who killed the security guard and nurse and why. This led her on quite a merry chase.
I don’t want to give too much away so just pick this up and read it as soon as possible. I really enjoy Child’s Tea Shop mysteries. If you do too, you will love this!
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the ninth book in the Cackleberry Club series by Laura Childs.
I thought this was a good concept for a mystery although egg shooters do sound kind of gross. This had a strong female lead and an excellent pacing. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Suzanne thought she was bringing her doctor fiancee a thermos of chili and ended up throwing it at a thief after the meds in the pharmacy. This set her on the road to finding out who killed the security guard and nurse and why. This led her on quite a merry chase.
I don’t want to give too much away so just pick this up and read it as soon as possible. I really enjoy Child’s Tea Shop mysteries. If you do too, you will love this!
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
February 22, 2021
2/22/2021 Starts with a bang but ultimately not as plausible as the previous book in the series. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
October 6, 2024
A very cute and cozy mystery read. Laura Childs always makes me want settle down with one of her books while listening to some jazz music and drinking coffee. 🧡
October 26, 2020
Suzanne takes dinner to Sam, who's working the ER in the hospital. While there, the pharmacy is robbed and a security guard killed. Suzanne, as a witness, gets involved in the search to identify the killer. Recipes included.
April 8, 2021
Always happy to welcome back the woman of the Cackleberry Club. When Suzanne finds herself at the wrong place at the wrong time during a pharmaceutical heist at the hospital that results in a guard dead and others injured, her pitching arm and thermos of chili prevented further casualties. Now it is up to her and Toni to identify the culprit who seemed to have disappeared into thin air while Petra holds down the fort at the Cackleberry Club with its expanding repertoire including a French themed dinner with recipes to die for.
April 5, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/e...
Egg Shooters
Cackleberry Club Mystery #9
By Laura Childs
ISBN#9780425281741
Author’s website: www.laurachilds.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
A murder in the local hospital is raising everyone’s temperature in the latest book in the New York Times bestselling Cackleberry Club series.
Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club Café, is visiting her fiancé, Dr. Sam Hazelet, when a masked gunman bursts into the emergency room. He shoots two people and would probably have done more damage had Suzanne not brained him with a thermos full of chili. Still, the gunman manages to escape.
Now the ladies of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he finds them.
Review:
It has been several years since author Laura Child graced readers with a new book in the Cackleberry Club mystery series so I was excited to read Egg Shooters and revisit this Midwest egg themed café and its three owners. Unfortunately, it was not worth the wait.
This time around the action starts out big right away when the main protagonist Suzanne gets caught up in a shooting at the hospital when the pharmacy is robbed. She immediately gets involved in the investigation with Toni, one of the other café owners, as her sidekick. Aside from the main mystery, there are other subplots to solve, and, to the book’s credit, they do all come together to form a cohesive story.
I have read, and mostly enjoyed, this series because I am a big fan of Childs’ Tea Shop series. The Cackleberry Club books have always been a bit grittier, yet still cozy, and Egg Shooters begins with murder and injuries that do not appear “off page”. Some readers may find this too jarring. Child also touches on PTSD and other real world problems, but lightly.
Suzanne has always been the main investigator in these tales, and she is mature and obviously intelligent. Here, though, she comes across as arrogant and a bit narcissistic in her disregard for her actions’ effect on others. She makes some poor choices, and, with Toni, does some pretty “too stupid to live” stuff. It is all just too over-the-top. Yes, one scene is almost Lucy and Ethel level shenanigans, but even it left me shaking my head in disbelief.
The characters feel stagnant. Everyone’s situation is the same as it has been throughout much of the series. Toni and Junior are still married but in name only, but they are more annoying than ever. I just do not like Toni. Petra is not featured enough to please me. Poor woman…always relegated to the kitchen behind closed doors away from the action. These characters need some growth.
On a brighter note, I still love the café setting, the small town atmosphere, all the talk of good food, and the recipes included in the back of the book.
Egg Shooters ended up not being my cup of tea, but other fans of the series should read the book to form their own opinions. I hope there is another book coming that remedies my disappointment.
Egg Shooters
Cackleberry Club Mystery #9
By Laura Childs
ISBN#9780425281741
Author’s website: www.laurachilds.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
A murder in the local hospital is raising everyone’s temperature in the latest book in the New York Times bestselling Cackleberry Club series.
Suzanne Dietz, co-owner of the Cackleberry Club Café, is visiting her fiancé, Dr. Sam Hazelet, when a masked gunman bursts into the emergency room. He shoots two people and would probably have done more damage had Suzanne not brained him with a thermos full of chili. Still, the gunman manages to escape.
Now the ladies of the Cackleberry Club are determined to find the killer before he finds them.
Review:
It has been several years since author Laura Child graced readers with a new book in the Cackleberry Club mystery series so I was excited to read Egg Shooters and revisit this Midwest egg themed café and its three owners. Unfortunately, it was not worth the wait.
This time around the action starts out big right away when the main protagonist Suzanne gets caught up in a shooting at the hospital when the pharmacy is robbed. She immediately gets involved in the investigation with Toni, one of the other café owners, as her sidekick. Aside from the main mystery, there are other subplots to solve, and, to the book’s credit, they do all come together to form a cohesive story.
I have read, and mostly enjoyed, this series because I am a big fan of Childs’ Tea Shop series. The Cackleberry Club books have always been a bit grittier, yet still cozy, and Egg Shooters begins with murder and injuries that do not appear “off page”. Some readers may find this too jarring. Child also touches on PTSD and other real world problems, but lightly.
Suzanne has always been the main investigator in these tales, and she is mature and obviously intelligent. Here, though, she comes across as arrogant and a bit narcissistic in her disregard for her actions’ effect on others. She makes some poor choices, and, with Toni, does some pretty “too stupid to live” stuff. It is all just too over-the-top. Yes, one scene is almost Lucy and Ethel level shenanigans, but even it left me shaking my head in disbelief.
The characters feel stagnant. Everyone’s situation is the same as it has been throughout much of the series. Toni and Junior are still married but in name only, but they are more annoying than ever. I just do not like Toni. Petra is not featured enough to please me. Poor woman…always relegated to the kitchen behind closed doors away from the action. These characters need some growth.
On a brighter note, I still love the café setting, the small town atmosphere, all the talk of good food, and the recipes included in the back of the book.
Egg Shooters ended up not being my cup of tea, but other fans of the series should read the book to form their own opinions. I hope there is another book coming that remedies my disappointment.
April 30, 2022
Disappointing. To dumb to live (TDTL) moments are becoming my pet peeve for cozy mysteries and this one is full of them. There were so many scenes where the main character (MC), Suzanne, and her friend go "investigating" for the slimmest of reasons. Yes, they should have been charged with trespassing numerous times as well as breaking and entering. I think that sometimes an author may use TDTL moments as a lazy way to add seemingly exciting scenes where a good author would figure out more logical ways for the MC to find out the same information without doing stupid things.
As Suzanne's annoyed boyfriend, who happens to be the county coroner, points out: "I can't imagine how you two ended up here. But … that's what you do."
"You mean investigate?" Suzanne asked.
Sam shook his head. "I mean meddle. But now … now it's time for you to pack it in and leave. Let the sheriff and I puzzle this thing out. Okay?"
For now, I'm not sure if I will continue with this series. I loved it at first but when you finish a book more annoyed then when you started it might be time to give it a pass.
As Suzanne's annoyed boyfriend, who happens to be the county coroner, points out: "I can't imagine how you two ended up here. But … that's what you do."
"You mean investigate?" Suzanne asked.
Sam shook his head. "I mean meddle. But now … now it's time for you to pack it in and leave. Let the sheriff and I puzzle this thing out. Okay?"
For now, I'm not sure if I will continue with this series. I loved it at first but when you finish a book more annoyed then when you started it might be time to give it a pass.
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