Crime and Poetry
A Magical Bookshop Mystery
New Series
Cozy Mystery
Setting – New York
An Obsidian Mystery (April 5, 2016)
Published by New American Library
An Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451477446
E-Book – ASIN: B011IVP9SM
From Amanda Flower
Rushing home to sit by her ailing grandmother’s bedside, Violet Waverly is shocked to find Grandma Daisy the picture of perfect health. Violet doesn’t need to read between the lines: her grandma wants Violet back home and working in her magical store, Charming Books. It’s where the perfect book tends to fly off the shelf and pick you…
Violet has every intention to hightail it back to Chicago, but then a dead man is discovered clutching a volume of Emily Dickinson’s poems from Grandma Daisy’s shop. The victim is Benedict Raisin, who recently put Grandma Daisy in his will, making her a prime suspect. Now, with the help of a tuxedo cat named Emerson, Violet will have to find a killer to keep Grandma from getting booked for good…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
As a fan of Amanda Flower’s other series I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. As she didn’t disappoint! I devoured this book!
Violet Waverly is working on her doctorate in literature in Chicago when her Grandma Daisy asks her to come back to Cascade Springs, near Niagara Falls. She tells her the doctor said she didn’t have much time. Violet rushes home but her grandmother wasn’t sick. She has another secret she has to tell. Violet isn’t happy but before she can get out of town a man is found dead on Grandma Daisy’s property and the police think her grandmother may have killed him. Violet will do anything to keep her grandmother out of jail so she has to stick around to find the real killer..
Amanda Flower has written a fantastic story set in a beautiful place. I enjoyed the way she brings history into this story. The town of Cascade Springs has a history, so does Violet’s family and so does Violet.
I liked that the story never seemed rushed or got bogged down at all. There was the perfect amount of cozy suspense and the story unfolded very comfortably.
Yes, as implied, the bookstore is magical and it and its contents become a character all their own. Of course, we have several human characters, in addition to Violet and her grandmother, there is a writing group that meets at the bookstore, Violet’s high school boyfriend, now the mayor, and his brother. We also meet two non-human characters – a wonderful tuxedo cat named Emerson and a talking crow named Faulkner. The author does a fantastic job introducing us to these and other area residents.
The magical part of this mystery was subtle at first and grew just the right about. We learn about it right along with Violet and she is not only smart but skeptical about how it works and has a lot to learn. So do we, I think there is so much more to come.
Her grandmother has a unique idea on how to solve the crime but Violet uses old fashioned footwork and questioning suspects in her investigation much to the dismay of a certain very handsome sheriff. I must say here, handsome men are not in short supply in Cascade Springs.
The little mini trip to see the falls was great. I hope someday I get to see them up close in personal.
This is an excellent start to this series. I want the next book book right now! December, seriously….o.k… I will make do 🙂
You can check out Amanda Flower’s webpage for more information about her and her books here.
Prose and Cons: A Magical Bookshop Mystery
Amish Quilt Shop Mystery Series (writing as Isabella Alan)
Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 1 copy to give away!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thanks for the review. This sounds like a wonderful new series. I’ll be putting it on my wish list.
Amanda provides her readers great reading in her Amish Quilt series so I am sure this one will be wonderful too. Thank you for including her newest on your blog and review.
This sounds so good I put it on my list to get! Love those cozy mysteries.
Sounds like a great cozy.
I just finished this book and I thought it was amazing. I’m looking forward to December!!!!
I’m looking forward to reading this book very much, either from the library or by winning my copy here. LOL
This sounds like a great book, thank you for the chance to win
Pretty book cover. Sounds like a good book.
Sue B
I am looking forward to this! I enjoy her other series too.
Love her books.
Crime and Poetry sounds like a fantastic read, and I love the cover art. Thank you for the chance to win.
Thanks for the review. This sounds like an interesting new series. Congrats on the release!
Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the review and wish you great success with the release.
I am so excited for this book to finally be released!!! Eeeeekkk!!!
It does look like a most intriguing read. I am really looking forward to it. I hope to win so I can find out what her grandma’s idea was. And of course to see whodunit. Sooner. Rather than later.