Prose and Cons (A Magical Bookshop Mystery)
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Setting – New York
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery (December 6, 2016)
An Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
Mass Market Paperback: 350 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451477453
E-Book ASIN: B01CZCW300
Magic, books, and cats collide in a village near Niagara Falls in the latest mystery from the author of Crime and Poetry
In Cascade Springs, New York, Violet Waverly and her grandma, Daisy, are the proprietors of Charming Books, where the power of the written word is positively enchanting…
October in Cascade Springs means tourists are pouring in for the annual Food and Wine Festival, and Daisy hopes to draw those crowds to the store. She asks Violet and the local writing group, the Red Inkers, to give a reading of the works of Edgar Allan Poe in the shop’s back garden to entertain the revelers. Everyone eagerly agrees.
Yet their enthusiasm is soon extinguished when Violet discovers one of the writers dead during the event. After the shop magically tells Violet she’ll need to rely on Poe’s works to solve the murder, she enlists the help of her trusty tuxedo cat, Emerson, and the shop’s crow, Faulkner. But they must act fast before someone else’s heart beats nevermore…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s all about Poe at Charming Books. To draw visitors to the bookstore during the Food and Wine Festival, the Red Inkers decide to do readings by the famous writer of mystery and the macabre. But one of the Inkers will be missing her reading. Violet finds her body at the foot of the stairs and her death was no accident. Using the bookstore’s charms with assists from her cat, Emerson and the shop’s mascot crow, Faulkner, Violet finds herself searching for the killer.
We return to Cascade Springs and Charming Books in this 2nd installment of the Magical Bookstore Mysteries, where the perfect book finds you and you find Violet Waverly, her grandma, Daisy, and a tuxedo cat named Emerson and what I picture to be a huge crow named Faulkner. Amanda Flower has created some wonderful characters here. Yes, I am including this unusual bookstore in my list as characters because it truly has a life all it’s own. Still I would classify this mystery as paranormal light. There are no ghosts or witches but the setting itself is magical along with maybe a familiar or two. From the tree growing inside it to the books on the shelves it is a very interesting place. Violet is still trying to understand what is means to be the caretaker of the store with her grandmother by her side.
The author has also crafted a entertaining mystery set in this magical place. One with many turns led by clues found in the shop but that take some critical thinking on Violet’s part to decipher. Emerson uses his special talents to help her make a crucial discovery. I liked that she was sharing her findings with the handsome police chief even though that upsets her old boyfriend, the mayor. Romantic tension is always good.
Ms. Flower has given readers a very imaginative story with some enchanting and colorful characters. I really hope this series is allowed to continue because there is so much more here for the author to build on. I am excited to visit Cascade Springs again.
Check out a preview of the book below.
About This Author
Amanda Flower, a two-time Agatha Award-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. She also writes mysteries as national bestselling author Isabella Alan. In addition to being an author, Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland.
Author Links:
Website Pen Name Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads Pinterest
Amish Quilt Shop Mystery Series (writing as Isabella Alan)
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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.”
I am having so much fun!
I have read the first book in this series, and I loved it! I am looking forward to reading the second book. Thank you for the giveaway.
I absolutely loved the first in this series and can’t wait to get un-busy and read this one too!
loved the first book in this series and can’t wait to read this one
Love the cover. Sounds like a great series.
Sue B
I can’t wait to read this and I love the cover!
I live about 15 minutes from the Falls so I can’t wait to read this series. Thanks for the chance to win!
Sounds like a good read. The cover is very nice.