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A Whiff of Murder
This intoxicating debut spin-off of Angela M. Sanders's small-town Oregon set Witch Way Librarian Mysteries features an intriguing young woman with a unique connection to the magical realm of scent. Sometimes, she can even sniff out a killer...
Some people read auras--a light or color that surrounds others, revealing their character or emotions. Lise Bloom reads ribbons--of fragrance, that is. Whenever she meets someone new, fragrance unfurls from them--an ability called "clairalience." It's a gift she keeps to herself, including from her loving adoptive family, while secretly searching her ancestry for the roots of her magic.
Hoping to gain insight into her clairalience, Lise works at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Unfortunately, the oils the owner, Dyann, concocts, nauseate Lise and impede her sense of scent. Worse, the shop feels more like wealthy Dyann's hobby than a spiritual place, thanks to her toxic love-torment relationship with her ex-husband, Richard.
Dyann is so pleased with her latest vengeful scheme that she shares it with Lise and gleefully remarks that if Richard ever finds out, he'll kill her. For Lise, it's the last straw. Persuaded to quit by her caring, colorful crew of neighbors, Lise shows up with a resignation letter. But first, she detects a fetid odor she doesn't recognize--and discovers a spilled bottle of Mayan ceremonial liqueur . . . beside Dyann's dead body.
In her rush to call the police, Lise doesn't notice she's dropped her resignation letter beside the body--making her the prime suspect. Now, she'll have to follow her nose to uncoil a venomous truth. It just may lead her life in an entirely new direction--unless a killer cuts it short . . .
Some people read auras--a light or color that surrounds others, revealing their character or emotions. Lise Bloom reads ribbons--of fragrance, that is. Whenever she meets someone new, fragrance unfurls from them--an ability called "clairalience." It's a gift she keeps to herself, including from her loving adoptive family, while secretly searching her ancestry for the roots of her magic.
Hoping to gain insight into her clairalience, Lise works at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Unfortunately, the oils the owner, Dyann, concocts, nauseate Lise and impede her sense of scent. Worse, the shop feels more like wealthy Dyann's hobby than a spiritual place, thanks to her toxic love-torment relationship with her ex-husband, Richard.
Dyann is so pleased with her latest vengeful scheme that she shares it with Lise and gleefully remarks that if Richard ever finds out, he'll kill her. For Lise, it's the last straw. Persuaded to quit by her caring, colorful crew of neighbors, Lise shows up with a resignation letter. But first, she detects a fetid odor she doesn't recognize--and discovers a spilled bottle of Mayan ceremonial liqueur . . . beside Dyann's dead body.
In her rush to call the police, Lise doesn't notice she's dropped her resignation letter beside the body--making her the prime suspect. Now, she'll have to follow her nose to uncoil a venomous truth. It just may lead her life in an entirely new direction--unless a killer cuts it short . . .
304 pages, Hardcover
Published February 24, 2026
15 people are currently reading
4694 people want to read
About the author
Angela M. Sanders
20 books580 followersAngela M. Sanders is the author of the Witch Way Librarian cozy mysteries and the Joanna Hayworth vintage clothing mysteries . As Clover Tate, she wrote the Kite Shop cozy mysteries.
Before turning author, spent more than a decade as a congressional investigator and also wrote magazine articles on perfume, food, and local personalities. When Angela isn’t at her laptop, she’s often rummaging in thrift shops, lounging with a vintage crime novel with her shelter cats Squeaky and Bitsy.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.angelamsanders.com and follow her on Instagram at @angela.m.sanders
Before turning author, spent more than a decade as a congressional investigator and also wrote magazine articles on perfume, food, and local personalities. When Angela isn’t at her laptop, she’s often rummaging in thrift shops, lounging with a vintage crime novel with her shelter cats Squeaky and Bitsy.
Sign up for her newsletter at www.angelamsanders.com and follow her on Instagram at @angela.m.sanders
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 20, 2026
I’d rate this somewhere between 2.5-3 stars. The plot feels thin and it compensates with multiple character POVs that don’t move the story along.
This is described as a cozy fantasy mystery and I got a little cozy, a little fantasy, and a little mystery - but not enough of any of them to make the story satisfying. I really enjoyed the cast of characters, the Corrie House included, but I was disappointed that the central mystery was kind of irrelevant at some points.
Overall I really enjoyed the writing style but this story wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Angela M. Sanders, and Kensington Cozies for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is described as a cozy fantasy mystery and I got a little cozy, a little fantasy, and a little mystery - but not enough of any of them to make the story satisfying. I really enjoyed the cast of characters, the Corrie House included, but I was disappointed that the central mystery was kind of irrelevant at some points.
Overall I really enjoyed the writing style but this story wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Angela M. Sanders, and Kensington Cozies for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
New series based in the same community as the Witch Way Librarian series, although I wouldn't label it as a spin off. Lise left Seattle under a dark cloud to settle here. And for some reason, she felt like home here. Especially renting a room from Teddy just felt like the right decision. As she attempts to discover more about her clairaudience, the owner of the Lucky Lotus, where she works, is murdered. We are lead on a merry chase with suspects and red herrings. The real charm of this book is the setting up of the characters and the house. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of them real soon. Thanks to netgalley and the Kensington Publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
October 13, 2025
#AWhiffofMurder #NetGalley is a new cozy mystery written by Angela M. Sanders.
This unique story is a spin off of the author's other series, featuring Josie Way.
Lise Bloom knows she's different, but she isn't even sure if what she experiences is real.
In fact, Lise reads fragrances, so when she’s around old friends or new, fragrance often surrounds them. Lise is told her ability is called “clairalience.”
Lise works for Dyann at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Lise isn't happy with her job, so her quirky roommates convince her to send in her resignation, hoping she will find a new path to take.
When she enters the store the next day, Lisa encounters a horrible odor, something she can only describe as "death."
She discovers Dyann on the floor, obviously dead, and she soon finds herself caught in family drama and plenty of lies.
Will she be able to find a new suspect to keep the police off her trail?
I enjoyed this first in a new series and I'm looking forward to seeing how other stories play out.
This unique story is a spin off of the author's other series, featuring Josie Way.
Lise Bloom knows she's different, but she isn't even sure if what she experiences is real.
In fact, Lise reads fragrances, so when she’s around old friends or new, fragrance often surrounds them. Lise is told her ability is called “clairalience.”
Lise works for Dyann at the Lucky Lotus, a New Age shop. Lise isn't happy with her job, so her quirky roommates convince her to send in her resignation, hoping she will find a new path to take.
When she enters the store the next day, Lisa encounters a horrible odor, something she can only describe as "death."
She discovers Dyann on the floor, obviously dead, and she soon finds herself caught in family drama and plenty of lies.
Will she be able to find a new suspect to keep the police off her trail?
I enjoyed this first in a new series and I'm looking forward to seeing how other stories play out.
November 24, 2025
Lise Bloom is a garden designer, or she would be, if she had any clients! Instead, the Lucky Lotus, a new age shop is where she spends her time working for lottery winner, Dyann, who is usually to be found working on her next plot to humiliate and annoy ex-husband, Richard. Lise is a clairalient which means she can see and interpret the meanings behind a person's fragrance, although she doesn't recognise a disturbing odour in the store until it leads her to a dead body! Now Lise has to sniff her way through the clues alongside housemate Fran, who has her own difficulties to work through, and landlady, Teddy who has definitely lived! The killer isn't finished however, and when they strike again the situation gets even more dangerous and shocking for everyone.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. A spin off from the Witch Way Librarian Series, Lise Bloom's adventures promised much, especially as I'd loved the previous series, but there is only a tenuous link to Josie and her library before this successfully stands alone. I like Lise, Frank, and Teddy and look forward to reading more of their escapades and back stories in future books. 3.5 rounded up to 4*.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. A spin off from the Witch Way Librarian Series, Lise Bloom's adventures promised much, especially as I'd loved the previous series, but there is only a tenuous link to Josie and her library before this successfully stands alone. I like Lise, Frank, and Teddy and look forward to reading more of their escapades and back stories in future books. 3.5 rounded up to 4*.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders is a spinoff of her Witch Way Librarian series and opens with the reader meeting Lise Bloom, who works at the Lucky Lotus and can smell emotions. Hoping to learn more about her special gift, clairalience, she's suddenly thrust into the spotlight when she discovers the dead body of her boss, Dyann, in the back room of the store and becomes one of the prime suspects. With the help of her roommates, Lise sets out to prove her innocence and find out who could have a motive to kill her boss.
I knew right off the bat that I had to read Sanders' latest novel without even reading the synopsis because I absolutely love her Witch Way Librarian series. Additionally, I wanted another story by her to tide me over until the next installment of that series. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders. I was ecstatic when I learned of the approval. I received a copy for free in exchange of my honest review.
As I began the story, I quickly realized that the main character had made a special appearance in Witch and Tell (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #7), and I was pleased to learn that I'd get to learn more about Lise Bloom. I thoroughly enjoyed A Whiff of Murder, but I did have a bit of trouble at first getting into the story. However, the pacing quickly picked up and took me on a ride of a lifetime.
This cozy mystery appears to be a first in a series, and there was a lot of time spent on character development, especially when it comes to the characters of Lise, Teddy, Fran, and Burt. They were all very likable, and I can't wait to see what shenanigans they get into as the series progresses. I found that the characters of Dyann, Richard, and Murphy were quite unlikable, but by the end of A Whiff of Murder, I found myself liking Murphy a little better.
There was another character that I really liked at the beginning of the book but found myself suspecting that person being the killer despite the fact that there were a number of other people who had reason to want Dyann dead. I'm not telling who the murderer is though ... you'll have to read the book to find out for yourself. Additionally, I loved the spin on the retirement home and found myself really liking quite a few of the tenants. I hope they are involved in future installments! As for the detective, Signe, I really didn't like her either but found myself liking her better as the story progressed.
I do have to say that although I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was, I couldn't figure out the motive, and it drove me crazy. And, the author even dropped clues about the motive!! When the killer is revealed and their motive behind killing Dyann, I found it to be a little far fetched, but people do all sorts of crazy things for less.
Typically, I don't read the mentions at the end of a book, but I found myself reading the afterward. I was bummed to learn that the author will not be writing any more of the Witch Way Librarian series, and I really wish she would!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders and rated it four out of five stars. I hope Sanders writes more books about Lise Bloom and makes it a series. The expected publication of this book is February 24, 2026.
I knew right off the bat that I had to read Sanders' latest novel without even reading the synopsis because I absolutely love her Witch Way Librarian series. Additionally, I wanted another story by her to tide me over until the next installment of that series. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders. I was ecstatic when I learned of the approval. I received a copy for free in exchange of my honest review.
As I began the story, I quickly realized that the main character had made a special appearance in Witch and Tell (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #7), and I was pleased to learn that I'd get to learn more about Lise Bloom. I thoroughly enjoyed A Whiff of Murder, but I did have a bit of trouble at first getting into the story. However, the pacing quickly picked up and took me on a ride of a lifetime.
This cozy mystery appears to be a first in a series, and there was a lot of time spent on character development, especially when it comes to the characters of Lise, Teddy, Fran, and Burt. They were all very likable, and I can't wait to see what shenanigans they get into as the series progresses. I found that the characters of Dyann, Richard, and Murphy were quite unlikable, but by the end of A Whiff of Murder, I found myself liking Murphy a little better.
There was another character that I really liked at the beginning of the book but found myself suspecting that person being the killer despite the fact that there were a number of other people who had reason to want Dyann dead. I'm not telling who the murderer is though ... you'll have to read the book to find out for yourself. Additionally, I loved the spin on the retirement home and found myself really liking quite a few of the tenants. I hope they are involved in future installments! As for the detective, Signe, I really didn't like her either but found myself liking her better as the story progressed.
I do have to say that although I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was, I couldn't figure out the motive, and it drove me crazy. And, the author even dropped clues about the motive!! When the killer is revealed and their motive behind killing Dyann, I found it to be a little far fetched, but people do all sorts of crazy things for less.
Typically, I don't read the mentions at the end of a book, but I found myself reading the afterward. I was bummed to learn that the author will not be writing any more of the Witch Way Librarian series, and I really wish she would!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed A Whiff of Murder by Angela M. Sanders and rated it four out of five stars. I hope Sanders writes more books about Lise Bloom and makes it a series. The expected publication of this book is February 24, 2026.
February 24, 2026
A Whiff of Murder, the first in a new cozy mystery series
FMC Lise has moved to Astoria to both escape her past, and hopefully learn more about her ability to smell emotions, called clairalience. Working at The Lucky Lotus for Dyann is what led Lise to identifying the name of her ability, so while she is grateful, she does not enjoy working at the shop, and sends in her resignation by email. Arriving the next day, wary of what Dyann may say, she smells something she never has before, and then finds Dyann dead. As the police clear the store, Lise becomes suspect number 1, and goes on an adventure to find the true murderer. Along the way she gets help from her room-mates, as well as the amusing and fun residents of Blavatsky Manor, a home for retired psychics (or so they claim), discovering more about her own past and abilities.
Lise's ability to smell emotions is truly unique, and gives her an idea of the personalities of people she encounters, as well as their current emotions. This came in handy when Lise was questioning various people about Dyann's murder. My favorite parts of the story are with the Blavatsky Manor residents, they are a hilarious group of retired "psychics" who give quite a bit of assistance to Lise in her sleuthing. She gets a job at the manor after the Lucky Lotus has closed. Then there are Lise's room-mates at Corrie House (Fran, and Teddy the owner), a seemingly haunted house, that has a mind of its own when it comes to choosing tenants.
While the murder investigation is underway, we also learn more about Lise, her background, and why she has come to Astoria. Although her parentage is vague, I am hoping in future books she will be able to uncover more about herself and her abilities. I found it fascinating that Lise is into vintage perfumes, it makes sense with her clairalience, but also a bit of an odd thing to collect.
There are also some pet sidekicks that are frequently mentioned in the story, the two cats at Corrie House, Grace and Charm. A snoring pug that hangs out in the book store that Fran works in. As well as a pet snake. I just love when a book has furry friends!
As the cast of characters contribute their own unique skills to help Lise find the culprit, more mysteries abound, and Lise even finds herself in a tricky situation before the end.
My only complaints are that the story does have a slow start, so it took me a bit to get into it. Also, there are a lot of characters in this book, and at least 3-4 points of view, which makes it hard to get into the story when you are thrown into all these characters perspectives, that have seemingly unrelated backstories to the story itself. I am still unsure of the need/reason for some characters backstories, but am curious what parts everyone will play in future installments of this series.
Thank you so much to the author, Kensington, and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"Home-Corrie House- was a two-story Victorian pile built for what must have been an agoraphobic sea captain. A peaked attic, Gothic-arched windows, and an octagonal tower rising from its east side contributed to its reputation as "that haunted place on the hill.""
"Today she was on her way to nose around about murder."
""Everyone says Corrie House is haunted, but I think it's more than that. This house feels alive, like it has a soul.""
"...at Corrie House she felt at peace. Despite her long-ago like as a hippie, Teddy wasn't usually into the woo, but it was as if Corrie House had eased her into its orbit with soothing words of protection, like she was a toddler folded into a loving woman's apron."
""Nothing serious," Arthur said. "Mostly misdemeanors and clean felonies." What was a "clean" felony? Lise wondered."
"She was not finished searching for her magical roots, but she'd found a kind of family here."
FMC Lise has moved to Astoria to both escape her past, and hopefully learn more about her ability to smell emotions, called clairalience. Working at The Lucky Lotus for Dyann is what led Lise to identifying the name of her ability, so while she is grateful, she does not enjoy working at the shop, and sends in her resignation by email. Arriving the next day, wary of what Dyann may say, she smells something she never has before, and then finds Dyann dead. As the police clear the store, Lise becomes suspect number 1, and goes on an adventure to find the true murderer. Along the way she gets help from her room-mates, as well as the amusing and fun residents of Blavatsky Manor, a home for retired psychics (or so they claim), discovering more about her own past and abilities.
Lise's ability to smell emotions is truly unique, and gives her an idea of the personalities of people she encounters, as well as their current emotions. This came in handy when Lise was questioning various people about Dyann's murder. My favorite parts of the story are with the Blavatsky Manor residents, they are a hilarious group of retired "psychics" who give quite a bit of assistance to Lise in her sleuthing. She gets a job at the manor after the Lucky Lotus has closed. Then there are Lise's room-mates at Corrie House (Fran, and Teddy the owner), a seemingly haunted house, that has a mind of its own when it comes to choosing tenants.
While the murder investigation is underway, we also learn more about Lise, her background, and why she has come to Astoria. Although her parentage is vague, I am hoping in future books she will be able to uncover more about herself and her abilities. I found it fascinating that Lise is into vintage perfumes, it makes sense with her clairalience, but also a bit of an odd thing to collect.
There are also some pet sidekicks that are frequently mentioned in the story, the two cats at Corrie House, Grace and Charm. A snoring pug that hangs out in the book store that Fran works in. As well as a pet snake. I just love when a book has furry friends!
As the cast of characters contribute their own unique skills to help Lise find the culprit, more mysteries abound, and Lise even finds herself in a tricky situation before the end.
My only complaints are that the story does have a slow start, so it took me a bit to get into it. Also, there are a lot of characters in this book, and at least 3-4 points of view, which makes it hard to get into the story when you are thrown into all these characters perspectives, that have seemingly unrelated backstories to the story itself. I am still unsure of the need/reason for some characters backstories, but am curious what parts everyone will play in future installments of this series.
Thank you so much to the author, Kensington, and Netgalley for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"Home-Corrie House- was a two-story Victorian pile built for what must have been an agoraphobic sea captain. A peaked attic, Gothic-arched windows, and an octagonal tower rising from its east side contributed to its reputation as "that haunted place on the hill.""
"Today she was on her way to nose around about murder."
""Everyone says Corrie House is haunted, but I think it's more than that. This house feels alive, like it has a soul.""
"...at Corrie House she felt at peace. Despite her long-ago like as a hippie, Teddy wasn't usually into the woo, but it was as if Corrie House had eased her into its orbit with soothing words of protection, like she was a toddler folded into a loving woman's apron."
""Nothing serious," Arthur said. "Mostly misdemeanors and clean felonies." What was a "clean" felony? Lise wondered."
"She was not finished searching for her magical roots, but she'd found a kind of family here."
February 28, 2026
Gut rating: ⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: TBD
Spice: None
ARC publication date: February 24th 2026
Tropes: Amateur detectives, small town murder, clairalience (can smell emotions), sentient haunted house, multi POV
Quote: The scent Lise had smelled when she first landed in Astoria returned, just for a moment. Home, it whispered. Here.
My synopsis: When Lise Bloom starts working at the Lucky Lotus holistic wellness store in Astoria, Oregon USA, she's hoping to learn more about her ability to smell emotions, not find her millionaire boss Dyann (a charlatan spiritualist) murdered. With Dyann cutting her family out of her will right before her death in favour of a retirement home for psychic mediums, Lise is sure Dyann's feuding ex-husband Richard is behind her death. But the new detective has other thoughts, and she knows Lise's tainted past. To prove her innocence, Lise teams up with her eclectic housemates to investigate themselves. But with the house they live in becoming more and more haunted by the day, they must find what ties them all together.
My review: A misleading blurb made for a disappointing read.
While the book was advertised as a murder mystery featuring an amateur detective with psychic smelling gifts, this was not the main feature of the book. Instead, the story focused on developing a group of eclectic characters with shadowy pasts in a haunted house (obviously for a future series). While I liked that the house was haunted by its past, it had no bearing on the murder investigation at all and seemed to take up a lot of plot time. Unfortunately, the story ended up feeling like two distinct books pushed together.
Lise's clairalience was a very minor part of the plot and I was disappointed it wasn't part of solving the mystery. Instead it was used to analyse and describe the characters being brought in as part of the main cast. Lise herself was a weak character who needed to be more assertive in driving the investigation as most of her actions were directed by characters who were merely side characters at the time. This ended up being an unenthusiastic investigation led more by the mind than the nose.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Trigger warnings: Murder, death, suicide, bullying, toxic relationship, abandonment, death of parent, injury detail, kidnapping, alcohol, cancer, chronic illness, grief, panic attack
CAWPILE rating: TBD
Spice: None
ARC publication date: February 24th 2026
Tropes: Amateur detectives, small town murder, clairalience (can smell emotions), sentient haunted house, multi POV
Quote: The scent Lise had smelled when she first landed in Astoria returned, just for a moment. Home, it whispered. Here.
My synopsis: When Lise Bloom starts working at the Lucky Lotus holistic wellness store in Astoria, Oregon USA, she's hoping to learn more about her ability to smell emotions, not find her millionaire boss Dyann (a charlatan spiritualist) murdered. With Dyann cutting her family out of her will right before her death in favour of a retirement home for psychic mediums, Lise is sure Dyann's feuding ex-husband Richard is behind her death. But the new detective has other thoughts, and she knows Lise's tainted past. To prove her innocence, Lise teams up with her eclectic housemates to investigate themselves. But with the house they live in becoming more and more haunted by the day, they must find what ties them all together.
My review: A misleading blurb made for a disappointing read.
While the book was advertised as a murder mystery featuring an amateur detective with psychic smelling gifts, this was not the main feature of the book. Instead, the story focused on developing a group of eclectic characters with shadowy pasts in a haunted house (obviously for a future series). While I liked that the house was haunted by its past, it had no bearing on the murder investigation at all and seemed to take up a lot of plot time. Unfortunately, the story ended up feeling like two distinct books pushed together.
Lise's clairalience was a very minor part of the plot and I was disappointed it wasn't part of solving the mystery. Instead it was used to analyse and describe the characters being brought in as part of the main cast. Lise herself was a weak character who needed to be more assertive in driving the investigation as most of her actions were directed by characters who were merely side characters at the time. This ended up being an unenthusiastic investigation led more by the mind than the nose.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Trigger warnings: Murder, death, suicide, bullying, toxic relationship, abandonment, death of parent, injury detail, kidnapping, alcohol, cancer, chronic illness, grief, panic attack
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📱📖 Read on Kobo
📃 304 pages
⏱ Duration: ~4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Publishing (Kensington Cozies)
📅 Release Date: February 24, 2026
📌 ARC provided by NetGalley
After feeling underwhelmed by the Josie Way series, I was hopeful when Angela M. Sanders announced a fresh start with A Whiff of Murder. Lise Bloom was introduced in Witch and Tell (Witch Way Librarian #7), and I liked her there enough to feel optimistic about her stepping into the lead role. Her gift of reading “fragrance ribbons” felt creative and had the potential to set this paranormal cozy apart. I loved the Oregon setting, the quirky side characters, and Sanders’s usual knack for small‑town charm.
But somewhere between the incense sticks and the melodrama, things drifted a little too YA for my taste. In this book, Lise comes across as far more childish than expected, especially in how she handles conflict. The rivalry with Detective Signe felt rooted in high school grudges rather than adult motivations, which made both characters feel emotionally underdeveloped. Signe’s determination to view Lise as guilty simply because of a shared past rivalry stretched credibility and weakened the investigative tension.
The mystery itself is serviceable, and the clairalience concept remains the strongest element. This feels like a book that wanted to be cozy fun but stumbled in character execution. Still, Sanders’s prose remains smooth, and I can see die‑hard cozy fans enjoying the light paranormal twist.
Would I recommend it?
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a sprinkle of magic and small‑town gossip, you might find A Whiff of Murder a pleasant weekend diversion. For me, it didn’t quite capture the spark of Sanders’s earlier work, but it’s far from a total miss.
📃 304 pages
⏱ Duration: ~4 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Publishing (Kensington Cozies)
📅 Release Date: February 24, 2026
📌 ARC provided by NetGalley
After feeling underwhelmed by the Josie Way series, I was hopeful when Angela M. Sanders announced a fresh start with A Whiff of Murder. Lise Bloom was introduced in Witch and Tell (Witch Way Librarian #7), and I liked her there enough to feel optimistic about her stepping into the lead role. Her gift of reading “fragrance ribbons” felt creative and had the potential to set this paranormal cozy apart. I loved the Oregon setting, the quirky side characters, and Sanders’s usual knack for small‑town charm.
But somewhere between the incense sticks and the melodrama, things drifted a little too YA for my taste. In this book, Lise comes across as far more childish than expected, especially in how she handles conflict. The rivalry with Detective Signe felt rooted in high school grudges rather than adult motivations, which made both characters feel emotionally underdeveloped. Signe’s determination to view Lise as guilty simply because of a shared past rivalry stretched credibility and weakened the investigative tension.
The mystery itself is serviceable, and the clairalience concept remains the strongest element. This feels like a book that wanted to be cozy fun but stumbled in character execution. Still, Sanders’s prose remains smooth, and I can see die‑hard cozy fans enjoying the light paranormal twist.
Would I recommend it?
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a sprinkle of magic and small‑town gossip, you might find A Whiff of Murder a pleasant weekend diversion. For me, it didn’t quite capture the spark of Sanders’s earlier work, but it’s far from a total miss.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I received this copy from the publisher, Penquin Random House as an arc copy and this is my honest review.
This was a really fun cozy mystery. An eclectic found family of misfits with varying abilities find each other and become family in the true sense of the word.
Lise, has a paranormal ability to smell emotions as scents in the people she meets. And as the story goes on she’s even able to determine historical scents as well. Fran, another housemate, has a real knack for mysteries and she also has the ability to sense ghosts which the old historical manner they live in is chock full of.
The last in our little family of the manor is Teddy. Teddy is a octogenarian hippie wild child who has lived a past that most only dream of, traveling the world and living as a mistress of a very rich man. Then we also have that fascinating characters from Blavasky Manor, supposedly a psychic retirement home, but actuality is a retirement hideout for old con artists, and where Lise finds employment after her job at the Lucky Lotus ends upon her bosses murder. She actually finds her boss the next morning when she goes to work and is then a murder suspect herself. This is when the group at the manor goes to work to prove her innocence.
There is a whole bunch of fun twists and turns that leads to an unexpected ending.
Interesting quirky characters and a delightful plot made the story in absolute unexpected delight. The story is cute, quirky and actually a darn good time!
This was a really fun cozy mystery. An eclectic found family of misfits with varying abilities find each other and become family in the true sense of the word.
Lise, has a paranormal ability to smell emotions as scents in the people she meets. And as the story goes on she’s even able to determine historical scents as well. Fran, another housemate, has a real knack for mysteries and she also has the ability to sense ghosts which the old historical manner they live in is chock full of.
The last in our little family of the manor is Teddy. Teddy is a octogenarian hippie wild child who has lived a past that most only dream of, traveling the world and living as a mistress of a very rich man. Then we also have that fascinating characters from Blavasky Manor, supposedly a psychic retirement home, but actuality is a retirement hideout for old con artists, and where Lise finds employment after her job at the Lucky Lotus ends upon her bosses murder. She actually finds her boss the next morning when she goes to work and is then a murder suspect herself. This is when the group at the manor goes to work to prove her innocence.
There is a whole bunch of fun twists and turns that leads to an unexpected ending.
Interesting quirky characters and a delightful plot made the story in absolute unexpected delight. The story is cute, quirky and actually a darn good time!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is such a great start to a new series. It is a cozy mystery, but it is VERY characters driven. If you are only looking for a story that keeps you focused on the clues and sleuthing then this one might not hit the way you want. If you are looking for amazing characters with mysterious backgrounds, lots of internal turmoil, found family vibes, and a FABULOUS setting then this is perfect for you. I was immediately intrigued by Lise and her magic ability to scent emotions (I met her in the Josie Way series and am so happy she gets to focus her own story). She has a lot of baggage in her past and I loved getting to know her. There are also two amazing and fascinating characters that she lives with and form such a strong bond. Teddy has a wild past that will always keep you guessing and laughing. Fran makes you feel heartache and the need to give her a big squishy hug. I love how the mystery brought them together (and also introduced us to some seriously hilarious seniors). I wasn't surprised by the mystery reveal, but I enjoyed it so much as a way to bring these characters out of their shell and each of their personal griefs. This book made me smile and weep and I cannot wait for more!
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Whiff of Murder brings together a cast of quirky ladies in a falling down Victorian house in Astoria Oregon. Lise can smell emotion and history. Fran can hear ghosts of which the house has many. Teddy has lived an adventurous life and after inheriting the house is trying to keep it going.
Lise and Fran are twenty somethings that come across as young and emotionally immature.
All three are likable characters. They make some poor choices during the book that could have been devastating if they had been up against a real villain.
Diann’s death is not clearly murder. Lise and Fran won’t let go the idea that it’s murder. The police chief is blindly trying to prevent the town from having any murders during his tenure. The psychic retirement home adds an additional quirky element.
I like the mystery, but the book felt a bit chaotic. There is an interesting mix of elements. I like the Witch Way Librarian mysteries so I’ll give a second book a try to see if this new series can come into its own.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of the book.
Lise and Fran are twenty somethings that come across as young and emotionally immature.
All three are likable characters. They make some poor choices during the book that could have been devastating if they had been up against a real villain.
Diann’s death is not clearly murder. Lise and Fran won’t let go the idea that it’s murder. The police chief is blindly trying to prevent the town from having any murders during his tenure. The psychic retirement home adds an additional quirky element.
I like the mystery, but the book felt a bit chaotic. There is an interesting mix of elements. I like the Witch Way Librarian mysteries so I’ll give a second book a try to see if this new series can come into its own.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of the book.
February 26, 2026
I enjoyed getting to know Lise better in this book. She’d appeared in the most recent book in the Witch Way Librarian series the author also has. Lise and Josie had gone through something epic and magical which rid the town of a real baddie. Then in this spinoff she ended up in Astoria, Oregon which I found out is a real town.
Lise probably had no idea she’d end up meeting such an amazing group of new friends, quirky but true friends who had each other’s backs during their amateur sleuthing when Lise’s boss was killed at the store she worked in. I had an idea of whodunit after hearing a clue of how Lise’s boss Dyann was killed, but I didn’t have the right perp at first.
Everyone played a good part in bringing justice to Dyann, especially Fran who’d previously suffered a major embarrassment of her own. I really enjoyed how the friendships grew throughout the book and how the characters renting rooms from Teddy evolved into a little family. I’m eager now to read the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
Lise probably had no idea she’d end up meeting such an amazing group of new friends, quirky but true friends who had each other’s backs during their amateur sleuthing when Lise’s boss was killed at the store she worked in. I had an idea of whodunit after hearing a clue of how Lise’s boss Dyann was killed, but I didn’t have the right perp at first.
Everyone played a good part in bringing justice to Dyann, especially Fran who’d previously suffered a major embarrassment of her own. I really enjoyed how the friendships grew throughout the book and how the characters renting rooms from Teddy evolved into a little family. I’m eager now to read the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
November 28, 2025
I was excited to get to read this mystery because I love the other series this author writes. I wish I could say that it was as good as the Witch Way Librarian mysteries, but I just had a hard time getting into this book. It did grow on me more as I was reading it and I for sure would read the next in the series, but I think there needs to be a little more character development and explanation. I did like the assortment of quirky characters and the mystery with the house is intriguing. I hope in the next book we get some more background and a lot more details. I was also sad to learn at the end of this book that the Witch Way Librarian series is ending. This series isn’t really a great replacement at this point, but it has potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 25, 2026
In “A Whiff of Murder,” Lise and her two housemates as they are caught up in a murder mystery. Lise’s employer has dropped dead and Lise is a suspect because of her recent resignation letter. This story involves a sentient house, a sleezy ex-husband, mysterious parentage, an interesting retirement home, and a snake refuge. I was captivated by the mystery and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. This book is the start of a new series that follows Lise, Fran, and Teddy as they solve town mysteries and learn more about their magical abilities. I love the Witchy Way Librarian mystery series by Sanders and I am sad to see that it has concluded. I will continue reading the next installment in this series for that reason. I am hoping to see a small romance develop in this series.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A Whiff of Murder takes place in Astoria, Oregon. Lise Bloom can read scents. Lise likes where she lives and her job is ok, until she finds her boss murdered. After that, she still likes where she lives but she's going to need a new job and some help figuring out who killed her boss and probably an alibi. With a very fun cast of likeable characters she has plenty of sleuthing help and more than a few suspects. This very enjoyable cozy mystery that will keep you guess who done it and I am super excited that it's the first in a new series!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Whiff of Murder is a spin-off from Angela M. Sanders’ Witch Way Librarian Mystery series. I loved that series so thought I would give this one a try. The story was slow to start but was fun and intriguing in the end. There’s a bit of paranormality throughout with three housemates having their own special “gifts”, living in a house with a gift of its own. This is a pretty quick cozy mystery read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A must-read for fans of whimsical cozies and found family! I absolutely adore Lise as a character and the kooky group of characters at the home she stays at. The retirement community was a great addition to the story, and the ending had me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fantastic first book in a series. Great spin off from the Witch Way series with Josie Way, which I'm saddened to know has ended. But hopefully Josie and Sam can make an appearance in this series. Super fun read. Excited to learn more about the house.
Review of advance copy
A quick & easy fantasy mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
fun and effective murder mystery. this idea of clairalience is a really unique fantasy power that works well for a murder mystery protag, too. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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