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A Magical Bookshop Mystery #1
Crime and Poetry
From Amanda Flower—who writes the national bestselling Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries as Isabella Alan—comes the first in the new Magical Bookshop Mystery series.
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...
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...
345 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 5, 2016
410 people are currently reading
8453 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Flower
61 books2,944 followersAmanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,015 reviews
April 5, 2025
kind of wacky & supernatural but also pretty fun! though i wish the ending was a little bit more monumental.
May 9, 2018
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book, the first in a new magical mystery series. CRIME AND POETRY was absolutely delightful, and one of the best cozy mysteries I’ve read.
The book begins with Violet Waverly frantically running back to her hometown of Cascade Springs, New York, after a twelve-year absence. Her sly Grandma Daisy claimed to be at death’s door, but it was all a ruse to get Violet to come home and take over the family’s bookstore. Well, before Violet can go storming back to Chicago, a dead body ends up in front of her grandmother’s house, and the initial evidence makes Daisy look guilty.
Violet is a wonderful character – smart, witty, bookish, a bit goofy, and totally relatable. She has a darn good reason for avoiding Cascade Springs, and what happened to her twelve years ago adds a second intriguing puzzle to this story. I love how this book jumped into the murder mystery right away, and Violet’s amateur sleuthing skills kicked in, with a little help from the charmed books in her grandmother’s magical bookshop.
The main mystery in this book was very interesting, combining a bit of history from Cascade Springs with some sneaky stuff going on in the town today. Violet’s research skills came in handy with her investigation. Along with a touch of the paranormal, there’s also an intriguing family secret, a little romance times two, and two cheeky animals to help (and pester) Violet. CRIME AND POETRY is sure to please cozy mystery fans, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The book begins with Violet Waverly frantically running back to her hometown of Cascade Springs, New York, after a twelve-year absence. Her sly Grandma Daisy claimed to be at death’s door, but it was all a ruse to get Violet to come home and take over the family’s bookstore. Well, before Violet can go storming back to Chicago, a dead body ends up in front of her grandmother’s house, and the initial evidence makes Daisy look guilty.
Violet is a wonderful character – smart, witty, bookish, a bit goofy, and totally relatable. She has a darn good reason for avoiding Cascade Springs, and what happened to her twelve years ago adds a second intriguing puzzle to this story. I love how this book jumped into the murder mystery right away, and Violet’s amateur sleuthing skills kicked in, with a little help from the charmed books in her grandmother’s magical bookshop.
The main mystery in this book was very interesting, combining a bit of history from Cascade Springs with some sneaky stuff going on in the town today. Violet’s research skills came in handy with her investigation. Along with a touch of the paranormal, there’s also an intriguing family secret, a little romance times two, and two cheeky animals to help (and pester) Violet. CRIME AND POETRY is sure to please cozy mystery fans, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2016
As a lover of mysteries, magic, and old bookshops, I had to take a few deep breaths to calm my excitement when I found out about Crime and Poetry, the first book in the brand new Magical Bookshop cozy mystery series by Amanda Flowers. It combines those three things I love. But did it live up to my expectations? With the exception of a few cons, the answer is yes.
I'll get the cons out of the way first. Now, this is a cozy mystery, and with that you're going to get a few Hallmark Channel cliches. There's the 20-something female protagonist who returns to her small childhood town despite swearing never to return. There's the Native American police chief named Chief Rainwater who may or may not be a love interest. There's the protagonist's teenage sweetheart who is now mayor and is trying to win her back. And then there's the dead body in a town known for its lack of dead bodies. Also, the killer who's identity you can figure out within the first quarter of the book. These are all things that pop up frequently in cozy mysteries. But honestly, if you are picking up a book like this, odds are you already know all these things and it's just what you're in the mood for. Sometimes, a cute simple story is just what you need.
It was exactly what I needed. It's a charming read and took me no time at all to wade through it. Every time I was away from home, I found myself thinking about this book and wanting to get back so I could dive in again. It wasn't because I had to know who the killer was or anything -- I guessed that right off the bat. It was just the sheer comfort I felt while reading that kept me coming back. Amanda Flowers has a writing style that welcomed me into her comfy little world with open arms. Also, you can't beat an old magical bookshop called Charming Books. What a great setting!
With that being said, I did want a little more magic and a little more bookshop. But still, Crime and Poetry was an enjoyable read. I have already preordered the second book and can't wait to read it when it comes out in December.
I'll get the cons out of the way first. Now, this is a cozy mystery, and with that you're going to get a few Hallmark Channel cliches. There's the 20-something female protagonist who returns to her small childhood town despite swearing never to return. There's the Native American police chief named Chief Rainwater who may or may not be a love interest. There's the protagonist's teenage sweetheart who is now mayor and is trying to win her back. And then there's the dead body in a town known for its lack of dead bodies. Also, the killer who's identity you can figure out within the first quarter of the book. These are all things that pop up frequently in cozy mysteries. But honestly, if you are picking up a book like this, odds are you already know all these things and it's just what you're in the mood for. Sometimes, a cute simple story is just what you need.
It was exactly what I needed. It's a charming read and took me no time at all to wade through it. Every time I was away from home, I found myself thinking about this book and wanting to get back so I could dive in again. It wasn't because I had to know who the killer was or anything -- I guessed that right off the bat. It was just the sheer comfort I felt while reading that kept me coming back. Amanda Flowers has a writing style that welcomed me into her comfy little world with open arms. Also, you can't beat an old magical bookshop called Charming Books. What a great setting!
With that being said, I did want a little more magic and a little more bookshop. But still, Crime and Poetry was an enjoyable read. I have already preordered the second book and can't wait to read it when it comes out in December.
May 9, 2016
I really wanted to like this book, and I really didn't like this book. By the end, I felt genuinely sorry for the heroine, and I wanted nothing more than for her to get back in her car, go back to Chicago, and never, ever talk to anyone in her small town again - including, possibly, her own grandmother, the only kin she had left.
The book opens with Violet rush home to visit her dying grandmother, after a self-imposed exile of 12 years. Her grandmother is in perfect health and it quickly becomes apparent that she faked a fatal illness to bring her granddaughter home. CHARMING.
Seriously, I finished the book feeling a genuine sense of sadness for this character, whose tragic life is played for laughs and who has literally no one she can trust. It's pretty clear that this isn't what the author was going for.
The writing style was also not really my thing, though YMMV. There was a lot of, "If I only knew how wrong I was..." type statements and long descriptions of the character choking on various foods which I think was supposed to be a running gag/sign of her social awkwardness, but was overdone and fell flat.
The two stars are because the mystery left me genuinely curious as to which horrible person done in the victim.
Overall, sad and very disappointing.
The book opens with Violet rush home to visit her dying grandmother, after a self-imposed exile of 12 years. Her grandmother is in perfect health and it quickly becomes apparent that she faked a fatal illness to bring her granddaughter home. CHARMING.
Seriously, I finished the book feeling a genuine sense of sadness for this character, whose tragic life is played for laughs and who has literally no one she can trust. It's pretty clear that this isn't what the author was going for.
The writing style was also not really my thing, though YMMV. There was a lot of, "If I only knew how wrong I was..." type statements and long descriptions of the character choking on various foods which I think was supposed to be a running gag/sign of her social awkwardness, but was overdone and fell flat.
The two stars are because the mystery left me genuinely curious as to which horrible person done in the victim.
Overall, sad and very disappointing.
January 22, 2024
Crime and Poetry - Amanda Flower - Book 1 in A Magical Bookshop Mystery Series - 4.5 Stars
What a fun, cute cozy mystery! Amanda Flower always has the best characters in her cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint! Throw in a cute tuxedo cat and you've got me sold! I really enjoyed my time with this one and look forward to book 2. This one is all about Violet who goes home after many years away to expect her Grandmother on her death bed, but finds her in perfect health. The plan was to get Violet back home to work in her magical bookstore, Charming Books. Violet has intentions of going back home to Chicago but a man dies in the bookstore and her Grandma is the prime suspect. Violet has to clear her Grandma's name and figure out why she was the number 1 person in this man's will.....
I loved the audiobook on this one - highly recommend as the narrator was great.
For those curious about the "magic" element in this one, its very light and not over the top. Its more like the books open up randomly to those who take hold of them or they try to reveal hints about things along the way etc. Very charming indeed! The content in general is clean and a cute light cozy mystery I had fun reading. I feel like Amanda Flower has this writing style that just welcomes you right in to the comfort of the book. The family element always makes me the most happy! We do have a hint of romance and I hope to see more of that in the following books in this series.
What a fun, cute cozy mystery! Amanda Flower always has the best characters in her cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint! Throw in a cute tuxedo cat and you've got me sold! I really enjoyed my time with this one and look forward to book 2. This one is all about Violet who goes home after many years away to expect her Grandmother on her death bed, but finds her in perfect health. The plan was to get Violet back home to work in her magical bookstore, Charming Books. Violet has intentions of going back home to Chicago but a man dies in the bookstore and her Grandma is the prime suspect. Violet has to clear her Grandma's name and figure out why she was the number 1 person in this man's will.....
I loved the audiobook on this one - highly recommend as the narrator was great.
For those curious about the "magic" element in this one, its very light and not over the top. Its more like the books open up randomly to those who take hold of them or they try to reveal hints about things along the way etc. Very charming indeed! The content in general is clean and a cute light cozy mystery I had fun reading. I feel like Amanda Flower has this writing style that just welcomes you right in to the comfort of the book. The family element always makes me the most happy! We do have a hint of romance and I hope to see more of that in the following books in this series.
March 26, 2017
This is one big disappointment, the blurb was promissing but the result was aweful.When Violet recieved a call from her dying gran'ma, she immediately left Chicago to her home town (or village).
Once there, she discovers a more than healthy Gran'ma Daizy, still managing "Charming books" a hell of a bookshop that is way from ordinary.
Vi gets really angry and decides to return to Chicago the next day, but Chicago can wait, the same morning, Vi discovers -on her gran'ma's driveway- the body of Benedict, an old carriage driver she met the day before at the shop. And to make things worse, he was clutching the very book he bought yesterday from "their shop".
So far, it's promissing, especially when books decide to talk to you and lead you to the killer. But then, things get really heavy and stalling, there's more about Vi feelings and previous relationship than the murder itself.
I loved her character, she's funny and sarcastic, but then, she started being stupid. Vi's ex boyfriend is the mayor of the village, he walked out on her when she needed him the most, the reason Vi left, is her best friend's death, she struggled with the police as she was considered a suspect, her ex-boyfriend's parents asked him to not get involved in what was going on, so he did. Now, he's hitting on her and trying to revive the old flames, what a jerk! and!! and! she's alowing him that, and then start complaining about being stuck between him and the OMG chief of police, an amber eyed native american (the choice is pretty clear, well, there's not any!)
So, adding to the fact that the plot was no surprise at all and the culprits can be guessed pretty easily, the heroine starts making very very stupid decisions that can lead to her death.
I had high expectations for a mystery involving a book shop, a talking crow and toxedo cat, but, meh..
February 25, 2017
Books that help you solve a murder, a magical and mystical tree and bookshop with a sweet Grandma. Water that has magical powers. The setting is Niagara Falls but Crime and Poetry to me felt like a place more charming and mysterious and like a land of fantasy.
This series was way more than I expected, I had this series and author on my TBR for a little while and i'm so glad I finally read it. Amanda's imagination is pure brilliance. The plot was well written and amazing.
This series was way more than I expected, I had this series and author on my TBR for a little while and i'm so glad I finally read it. Amanda's imagination is pure brilliance. The plot was well written and amazing.
July 7, 2023
There's something magical that happens when you find a book that feels like home. A book that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. A happy book. The ones that are few and far between. This is one of those for me.
Crime & Poetry is everything I could ever want in a classic cozy mystery. A charming, magical bookshop in a small town setting. A relatable main character. Sweet Grandma Daisy. A tuxedo cat companion. A talking crow. A bit of history. And let's not forget Chief Rainwater! The audiobook was phenomenal for this one as well. This was, for sure, a pleasant surprise. I can't wait to continue in this cozy series!
Crime & Poetry is everything I could ever want in a classic cozy mystery. A charming, magical bookshop in a small town setting. A relatable main character. Sweet Grandma Daisy. A tuxedo cat companion. A talking crow. A bit of history. And let's not forget Chief Rainwater! The audiobook was phenomenal for this one as well. This was, for sure, a pleasant surprise. I can't wait to continue in this cozy series!
March 29, 2016
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 :)
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 :)
August 29, 2016
What a wonderful cozy mystery! I just hope that Ms Flower sticks with it. (I'm still a little sore that she abandoned her first series with librarian India Hayes after only TWO books!)
This mystery takes place in one of those wonderfully quirky small towns that are so common in cozy mysteries with a magical bookstore that wants its next caretaker to come back home from Chicago. The bookstore is complete with a 200 year old birch tree in the center of the house, a talking crow with an attitude, and books that appear out of nowhere to answer your questions.
But this is a cozy mystery with a little meat on its bones. The main character had left town under a cloud after she had been suspected of her best friend's murder when she was only 17! She returns to a town where her ex-boyfriend is now the mayor and the chief of police is one prime piece of beefcake and they both are seriously interested in her. (Would that I have such problems!)
Fun! Fun! Fun! I adored it!
Oh, and there is a murder, lies, tainted water, and a cat.
This mystery takes place in one of those wonderfully quirky small towns that are so common in cozy mysteries with a magical bookstore that wants its next caretaker to come back home from Chicago. The bookstore is complete with a 200 year old birch tree in the center of the house, a talking crow with an attitude, and books that appear out of nowhere to answer your questions.
But this is a cozy mystery with a little meat on its bones. The main character had left town under a cloud after she had been suspected of her best friend's murder when she was only 17! She returns to a town where her ex-boyfriend is now the mayor and the chief of police is one prime piece of beefcake and they both are seriously interested in her. (Would that I have such problems!)
Fun! Fun! Fun! I adored it!
Oh, and there is a murder, lies, tainted water, and a cat.
May 24, 2018
This was another book I've been wanting to read for awhile now because I really enjoy another series that this author writes. I'm so glad one of the online book clubs I'm in chose it for the May discussion!
Violet Waverly was a grad student called suddenly to her hometown of Cascade Springs NY by her Grandma Daisy who was faking being ill. Grandma had a very important job to tell her about. Vi's plan was to go directly back to Chicago where she was going to the university but finding a dead carriage driver in her grandma's driveway sort of put a damper on that. Violet was determined to exonerate her grandma of any suspicion in this death and despite handsome police chief Rainwater's warnings, she continued to investigate hoping that she'd find the killer before that person found her.
I am in love with these characters already and I even dug out the second book to start. I'm not sure how I would have felt in Violet's shoes if I'd driven like crazy for seven hours to find my grandma healthy and fine. Probably relieved but since Daisy was such a sweet lady, Vi couldn't possibly hold this against her. I loved the cat that sort of adopted Violet. He was the perfect cat for a magical bookshop, very intuitive, appearing at places when Vi could have sworn she'd locked him in the house. The shop crow Faulkner was hilarious at times. All I could picture was the raven on the Munsters that kept saying "Nevermore!" lol.
The story about Violet's past was interesting and I was glad to see her get some closure from what happened twelve years ago. I like the new friend she met--Sadie was a very enthusiastic person with nothing but kind words for everyone. And she wasn't really annoying about it either. The two men interested in Violet both seem awesome but for some reason, I tend to be Team David Rainwater. He seems to have more of a connection with Vi. Nathan seems to really care for her too so it'll be interesting to see what happens in the next book. I sure hope the author is planning to write a third book--maybe someone at the discussion will ask her that.
Violet Waverly was a grad student called suddenly to her hometown of Cascade Springs NY by her Grandma Daisy who was faking being ill. Grandma had a very important job to tell her about. Vi's plan was to go directly back to Chicago where she was going to the university but finding a dead carriage driver in her grandma's driveway sort of put a damper on that. Violet was determined to exonerate her grandma of any suspicion in this death and despite handsome police chief Rainwater's warnings, she continued to investigate hoping that she'd find the killer before that person found her.
I am in love with these characters already and I even dug out the second book to start. I'm not sure how I would have felt in Violet's shoes if I'd driven like crazy for seven hours to find my grandma healthy and fine. Probably relieved but since Daisy was such a sweet lady, Vi couldn't possibly hold this against her. I loved the cat that sort of adopted Violet. He was the perfect cat for a magical bookshop, very intuitive, appearing at places when Vi could have sworn she'd locked him in the house. The shop crow Faulkner was hilarious at times. All I could picture was the raven on the Munsters that kept saying "Nevermore!" lol.
The story about Violet's past was interesting and I was glad to see her get some closure from what happened twelve years ago. I like the new friend she met--Sadie was a very enthusiastic person with nothing but kind words for everyone. And she wasn't really annoying about it either. The two men interested in Violet both seem awesome but for some reason, I tend to be Team David Rainwater. He seems to have more of a connection with Vi. Nathan seems to really care for her too so it'll be interesting to see what happens in the next book. I sure hope the author is planning to write a third book--maybe someone at the discussion will ask her that.
September 2, 2024
a corny, cute, and cozy magical murder mystery 🙂↔️☕️🍂
March 8, 2017
A decent cozy-mystery. 3.5
Violet Waverly left her hometown under rather bad circumstances and vowed never to come back. However after her grandmother Daisy (and only living relative) called her from her deathbed, she came back to the last place she wanted to ever be. Imagine how angry she is to find that Daisy, may have overstated her condition just a bit. In fact she's just fine, and it was all a ruse to get her back in town and take over the family business. Charming books a magical bookstore..... Ohh and then the dead body shows up and Daisy is murdersuspect #1
I liked the premise, the idea and the story. The novel had a fun, atmosphere and enough mystery to keep you reading even without the Whodunit plotline. In all it is a somewhat slow paced novel, that charmes through its quirks, and it's charming characters. In that it succeeds quite amiably. However I must conclude that perhaps this isn't my prefered genre. To little happened and some things were just a bit convenient to ring true... An opinion probably born more from a conflict between the genre and my tasted than anything ells.
In short, a cozy mystery with charming characters and enough mystery to entertain, but perhaps not for me.
Violet Waverly left her hometown under rather bad circumstances and vowed never to come back. However after her grandmother Daisy (and only living relative) called her from her deathbed, she came back to the last place she wanted to ever be. Imagine how angry she is to find that Daisy, may have overstated her condition just a bit. In fact she's just fine, and it was all a ruse to get her back in town and take over the family business. Charming books a magical bookstore..... Ohh and then the dead body shows up and Daisy is murdersuspect #1
I liked the premise, the idea and the story. The novel had a fun, atmosphere and enough mystery to keep you reading even without the Whodunit plotline. In all it is a somewhat slow paced novel, that charmes through its quirks, and it's charming characters. In that it succeeds quite amiably. However I must conclude that perhaps this isn't my prefered genre. To little happened and some things were just a bit convenient to ring true... An opinion probably born more from a conflict between the genre and my tasted than anything ells.
In short, a cozy mystery with charming characters and enough mystery to entertain, but perhaps not for me.
March 17, 2017
Violet Waverly forced to come back to her home town only to found that she's been tricked by her grandma. Daisy, her grandma, is a lovely woman who owns a bookstore, and claimed that in her store, the books will choose its owner. Violet clearly thinks that her Grandma must be losing her mind, when Daisy asked her to moved back to her hometown. When she was there, she met a nice man who wants to buy books, Benedict.
Strange things happens when suddenly, a book fall from the shelf and hits Benedict on his head. Daisy tried her best to conviced Benedict to pick another book, but Benedict insist to buy the book that hit his head, Emily Dickinson's book. Violet feel strange to see her grandma , freaking out about such things. The next morning, Violet found Benedict in her front lawn, dead. And to make it all worse, her Grandma is suspected by the local police. Violet needs to stay longer in her hometown, to found out the real killer and to unravel a huge family secret.
This book is great, and entertaining. A magical bookstore, who doesnt like that. I dont feel like reading a cozy mystery, because the storyline is interesting. I enjoy the characters, the plot, and also the way it written.
Strange things happens when suddenly, a book fall from the shelf and hits Benedict on his head. Daisy tried her best to conviced Benedict to pick another book, but Benedict insist to buy the book that hit his head, Emily Dickinson's book. Violet feel strange to see her grandma , freaking out about such things. The next morning, Violet found Benedict in her front lawn, dead. And to make it all worse, her Grandma is suspected by the local police. Violet needs to stay longer in her hometown, to found out the real killer and to unravel a huge family secret.
This book is great, and entertaining. A magical bookstore, who doesnt like that. I dont feel like reading a cozy mystery, because the storyline is interesting. I enjoy the characters, the plot, and also the way it written.
February 7, 2023
If I don't judge a book by its cover, I wouldn't read Cozy Mysteries. Flower has a couple series. I only like this one. I have a rough relationship with Flower. I'm glad I kept trudging through my Kindle (The big 2023 clean out.) I've found a pattern: I like the stores, but not the food Cozys -- of course this can change. I haven't read a cheese book yet 🤗.
I was all set to read a couple of chapters and be bored, I was ready to DNF before I started. (Stop -- I'm not alone.) I wasn't sure how I would handle the paranormal, and I will say I enjoyed the book, and look forward to continuing the series. The bookstore with its book club and book recommendations all appeal to me.
I was not bored and look forward to the characters growth and development.
Thank you to Book Tuber: Mr.Fancy Reads for his Cozy videos and recommendations. (FYI: He's from Australia and really funny.)
I was all set to read a couple of chapters and be bored, I was ready to DNF before I started. (Stop -- I'm not alone.) I wasn't sure how I would handle the paranormal, and I will say I enjoyed the book, and look forward to continuing the series. The bookstore with its book club and book recommendations all appeal to me.
I was not bored and look forward to the characters growth and development.
Thank you to Book Tuber: Mr.Fancy Reads for his Cozy videos and recommendations. (FYI: He's from Australia and really funny.)
August 23, 2020
"This is crazy. Books can't predict the future. They can't solve a murder."
"They aren't predicting it," Grandma Daisy said. "They only provide hints to what is already known."
I'm not a big mystery/thriller reader but I'm slowly trying to ease into these genre(s). As you can see from my rating, I didn't love this book but I do think this is the perfect book to read if you want to get into reading mystery books.
About the book
Our main character Violet Waverly, rushes into Cascade Springs to be with her dying grandmother, Daisy Waverly, only to find her perfectly fine. She hasn't been in the village once after she was accused of her bestfriend Collen's supposed murder 12 years ago and she. is. pissed. Turns out, it was her grandmother's scheme to get her back in the village to be the caretaker of her supposedly magical bookshop. Within 24 hours, there is a dead body of her grandmother's boyfriend Benedict Raisin, in their driveway and Violet is suddenly faced with the same situation that happened 12 years ago. With all of the evidence pointing toward Daisy, Violet takes it upon herself to make sure her grandmother doesn't suffer the same fate she did.
I honestly thought this was going to be a teenage mystery story but almost all of the characters were in their late 20s and older so that kind of threw me of a little.
Within 50 pages of the book, you will think that you will get a serving of romance with mystery too. But believe me, there's no romance in this story. It is very much a mystery focused book. Violet had two love interests (I don't know what else to call them. Acquaintances? Because literally nothing happened with either of them) in this book. So even though the case does close in this book, there's a little cliffhanger.
The big question, "Who will she choose?" is hopefully answered in the next book! *fingers crossed*
I was waiting for that eerie feeling, that twist that will knock my socks off but sadly nothing unexpected happened. I honestly kept reading more and more just to find out who the murderer was.
After the murderer is revealed, Violet keeps asking "Why did you kill Benedict?" and that's exactly my question. The closer we got to finding the murderer, the clearer it became who it was. But still...I just...I was still expecting a BIG twist. You know that feeling when the author's trying to convince you that "Yes, this is the murderer. Believe it, so I can set up another twist" ? That twist was exactly what I was waiting for.
Here is something Violet said that made me laugh,
"Sadie bounced into the seat next to me. I was starting to realize bouncing was the way she made her way through the world. Her ponytail really added to her kangaroo-inspired form of motion."
Even though I am disappointed with the conclusion of the book, I have to say this book is beautifully written. I'm gonna give this series another chance so I'm off to read the next book!
Genre
Mystery with a splash of Magical Realism
Reps
Native American character
African-American character
French-Canadian character
"They aren't predicting it," Grandma Daisy said. "They only provide hints to what is already known."
I'm not a big mystery/thriller reader but I'm slowly trying to ease into these genre(s). As you can see from my rating, I didn't love this book but I do think this is the perfect book to read if you want to get into reading mystery books.
About the book
Our main character Violet Waverly, rushes into Cascade Springs to be with her dying grandmother, Daisy Waverly, only to find her perfectly fine. She hasn't been in the village once after she was accused of her bestfriend Collen's supposed murder 12 years ago and she. is. pissed. Turns out, it was her grandmother's scheme to get her back in the village to be the caretaker of her supposedly magical bookshop. Within 24 hours, there is a dead body of her grandmother's boyfriend Benedict Raisin, in their driveway and Violet is suddenly faced with the same situation that happened 12 years ago. With all of the evidence pointing toward Daisy, Violet takes it upon herself to make sure her grandmother doesn't suffer the same fate she did.
I honestly thought this was going to be a teenage mystery story but almost all of the characters were in their late 20s and older so that kind of threw me of a little.
Within 50 pages of the book, you will think that you will get a serving of romance with mystery too. But believe me, there's no romance in this story. It is very much a mystery focused book. Violet had two love interests (I don't know what else to call them. Acquaintances? Because literally nothing happened with either of them) in this book. So even though the case does close in this book, there's a little cliffhanger.
The big question, "Who will she choose?" is hopefully answered in the next book! *fingers crossed*
"I had been to dozens of other bookstores in my life and never felt the same jolt of wonder as I did while in my grandmother's shop. It was a feeling of warmth and understanding I got as I looked around the room, like the books were alive and old friends. I knew that was ridiculous, and I would never say that aloud to anyone."
I was waiting for that eerie feeling, that twist that will knock my socks off but sadly nothing unexpected happened. I honestly kept reading more and more just to find out who the murderer was.
After the murderer is revealed, Violet keeps asking "Why did you kill Benedict?" and that's exactly my question. The closer we got to finding the murderer, the clearer it became who it was. But still...I just...I was still expecting a BIG twist. You know that feeling when the author's trying to convince you that "Yes, this is the murderer. Believe it, so I can set up another twist" ? That twist was exactly what I was waiting for.
Here is something Violet said that made me laugh,
"Sadie bounced into the seat next to me. I was starting to realize bouncing was the way she made her way through the world. Her ponytail really added to her kangaroo-inspired form of motion."
Even though I am disappointed with the conclusion of the book, I have to say this book is beautifully written. I'm gonna give this series another chance so I'm off to read the next book!
Genre
Mystery with a splash of Magical Realism
Reps
Native American character
African-American character
French-Canadian character
April 6, 2016
Crime And Poetry is the first book in the A Magical Bookshop Mystery series.
A very interesting and fun new series from Amanda Flower.
Violet Waverly has made an emergency trip back to Cascade Springs after recently receiving from her Grandma Daisy saying her death was imminent. But when she arrives her grandma appears to be in good health. Violet threatens to leave the next morning, but spends the at grandma bookstore, Charming Books. When Benedict Raisin, a carriage driver, comes to look for a book, one mysteriously flies off the shelf and falls at his feet. Later, when Violet asks about this, Daisy just replies that the books select a reader.
When Violet gets up the next morning, she looks outside to see a horse and carriage in her grandma's drive and Raisin in the driving seat. Violet goes out to say hello to him, but soon finds that he is dead. As the police begin to investigate, Daisy becomes a person of interest, as she will inherit all of his possessions. And when his estranged daughter, she claims that Daisy killed him to inherit his estate.
Much to Violet's chagrin, she finds out that Nathan Morton is the mayor and who is the cause that she left Cascade Springs twelve years before, is now the mayor. She is sure that he cannot be trusted to give her any help getting her grandmothers name cleared.
Violet soon learns that Raisin had a shady past and it sure that is why he has been killed.
Daisy soon tells Violet that the reason she wanted Violet is back is so that Violet can take over Charmed Books, as it's a magical type of bookstore that can only be passed on to family
The book has a wonderful cast of characters from the police chief David Rainwater, who is somewhat sympathetic to Violet, to Sadie who has a boutique across the street from Charmed Books, and to Lacy and Adrien Dupont who own La Crepe Jolie.
Anxiously awaiting the next book in this delightful new series.
A very interesting and fun new series from Amanda Flower.
Violet Waverly has made an emergency trip back to Cascade Springs after recently receiving from her Grandma Daisy saying her death was imminent. But when she arrives her grandma appears to be in good health. Violet threatens to leave the next morning, but spends the at grandma bookstore, Charming Books. When Benedict Raisin, a carriage driver, comes to look for a book, one mysteriously flies off the shelf and falls at his feet. Later, when Violet asks about this, Daisy just replies that the books select a reader.
When Violet gets up the next morning, she looks outside to see a horse and carriage in her grandma's drive and Raisin in the driving seat. Violet goes out to say hello to him, but soon finds that he is dead. As the police begin to investigate, Daisy becomes a person of interest, as she will inherit all of his possessions. And when his estranged daughter, she claims that Daisy killed him to inherit his estate.
Much to Violet's chagrin, she finds out that Nathan Morton is the mayor and who is the cause that she left Cascade Springs twelve years before, is now the mayor. She is sure that he cannot be trusted to give her any help getting her grandmothers name cleared.
Violet soon learns that Raisin had a shady past and it sure that is why he has been killed.
Daisy soon tells Violet that the reason she wanted Violet is back is so that Violet can take over Charmed Books, as it's a magical type of bookstore that can only be passed on to family
The book has a wonderful cast of characters from the police chief David Rainwater, who is somewhat sympathetic to Violet, to Sadie who has a boutique across the street from Charmed Books, and to Lacy and Adrien Dupont who own La Crepe Jolie.
Anxiously awaiting the next book in this delightful new series.
January 30, 2016
This is a new series by Amanda Flower, and let me start by saying that it is fantastic! Ms. Flower is a superb writer, and it shows throughout this book. I am not sure any review I write will do justice to how great this book really is. How can you go wrong with a Magical bookstore, where the books choose you, a very special tuxedo cat, and a hilarious crow who loves to talk? This book has it all, a great mystery, a bit of suspense, and a lot of laugh out loud moments.
We start with Violet getting a call from her grandmother Daisy, who tells her a bit of a fib to get her to come running to her bedside. Violet hasn't been back to her hometown in twelve years, because of something that happened in her past, but she doesn't hesitate when grandma needs her. Grandma Daisy has a few surprises up her sleeve, she informs Violet that she is to be the new "caretaker" of the bookstore. Violet is a bit confused when she finds out what this entails, she isn't sure whether to believe it or not.
More surprises lie ahead when Grandmas boyfriend is found murdered in her driveway, with her scarf around his neck! Daisy of course becomes the prime suspect. So Violet starts her own investigation to clear her grandmas name, even though the police are displeased about it. Along the way we meet many interesting characters, explore the city of Cascade Springs, and Violet even makes some new friends. I loved everything about this book, especially Emerson the cat, and Faulkner the crow. This is a very promising start to a fantastic new series, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. Don't miss this one!
We start with Violet getting a call from her grandmother Daisy, who tells her a bit of a fib to get her to come running to her bedside. Violet hasn't been back to her hometown in twelve years, because of something that happened in her past, but she doesn't hesitate when grandma needs her. Grandma Daisy has a few surprises up her sleeve, she informs Violet that she is to be the new "caretaker" of the bookstore. Violet is a bit confused when she finds out what this entails, she isn't sure whether to believe it or not.
More surprises lie ahead when Grandmas boyfriend is found murdered in her driveway, with her scarf around his neck! Daisy of course becomes the prime suspect. So Violet starts her own investigation to clear her grandmas name, even though the police are displeased about it. Along the way we meet many interesting characters, explore the city of Cascade Springs, and Violet even makes some new friends. I loved everything about this book, especially Emerson the cat, and Faulkner the crow. This is a very promising start to a fantastic new series, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. Don't miss this one!
July 7, 2016
Cozy mysteries are my guilty pleasure reads, and there are some smartly written ones out there. These little books you can curl up with and read with a cup of cocoa.
Crime and Poetry is the first book in the new "Magical Bookshop Mystery" series. Violet Waverly returns home to the quaint village of Cascade Springs, NY to help Grandma Daisy run her magical store, "Charming Books" - where books literally fly off the shelves, lol! Violet must clear Daisy's name when the body of a dead man is found clutching a book from her shop. When the case is over, will Violet stay in town (as Grandma wants) or will she return to Chicago?
This book was delightful and funny. I enjoyed the charming characters (especially Faulkner the crow, and Emerson the cat). The setting sounds like a beautiful, whimsical village I would love to visit. The writing was well done and the mystery kept me guessing. I did know the killer fairly early on, but that is just me (I read too much).
So what could be better than a magical bookstore? Whether fictional or a real bookshop, they are all enchanting to me. This was a charming cozy. Book #2 in this series is already on my to-read shelf.
Crime and Poetry is the first book in the new "Magical Bookshop Mystery" series. Violet Waverly returns home to the quaint village of Cascade Springs, NY to help Grandma Daisy run her magical store, "Charming Books" - where books literally fly off the shelves, lol! Violet must clear Daisy's name when the body of a dead man is found clutching a book from her shop. When the case is over, will Violet stay in town (as Grandma wants) or will she return to Chicago?
This book was delightful and funny. I enjoyed the charming characters (especially Faulkner the crow, and Emerson the cat). The setting sounds like a beautiful, whimsical village I would love to visit. The writing was well done and the mystery kept me guessing. I did know the killer fairly early on, but that is just me (I read too much).
So what could be better than a magical bookstore? Whether fictional or a real bookshop, they are all enchanting to me. This was a charming cozy. Book #2 in this series is already on my to-read shelf.
March 10, 2018
Charming cozy mystery. Another great series by Amanda Flower that I will continue reading.
September 30, 2025
Ahhhh I loved this cozy so much!! It had some heartfelt moments that had me tearing up. It made me laugh and was just so cozy and magical! I was charmed by Charmed Books as I read and grew to love so many characters! I also loved Emerson the cat and the crow Faulkner they had me giggling some especially Faulkner when he kept talking to Violet. There were also a couple of twists! There were four people who were acting suspicious and it had me thinking they all committed the murder but the one twist I gasped out loud and really didn’t see coming! I also love the hint of a side romance with the Detective that’s right Grant you can go on somewhere because you don’t stand a chance! I can’t wait to continue in this series and have already put the second book on my holds at my local library!
February 4, 2025
Cloud ☁️ library app
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3.5 stars 🌟 🤩
This was a fun one, as if I needed another series 😄 🤣 but not complaining.
Who wouldn't want to work in a magical bookshop ? :) (a haunted 👻 one would depend on the type of ghost).
Emerson was adorable and Fauknet was hilarious!
Loved Daisy, she is a fierce and empathetic spirit. I'd like to imagine my grandma would have been like her ❤️. Her closeness with Violet was wonderful 💜 and she has an awesome sense of humor :).
Another town I want to live in also!
The killer I didn't guess, always a plus 👍🏼
Hopefully there's more about the history of the springs in the next one :).
Suggested the next to my library app, crossing fingers 🤞 they get it quickly +
This was just the wonderful, cozy, warm feeling I needed.
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3.5 stars 🌟 🤩
This was a fun one, as if I needed another series 😄 🤣 but not complaining.
Who wouldn't want to work in a magical bookshop ? :) (a haunted 👻 one would depend on the type of ghost).
Emerson was adorable and Fauknet was hilarious!
Loved Daisy, she is a fierce and empathetic spirit. I'd like to imagine my grandma would have been like her ❤️. Her closeness with Violet was wonderful 💜 and she has an awesome sense of humor :).
Another town I want to live in also!
The killer I didn't guess, always a plus 👍🏼
Hopefully there's more about the history of the springs in the next one :).
Suggested the next to my library app, crossing fingers 🤞 they get it quickly +
This was just the wonderful, cozy, warm feeling I needed.
July 30, 2017
{{This is a Goodreads Only Review! Meaning, this review will not be posted on 'Books for Christian Girls'. }}
I wasn't so sure about a book/series about a magical bookshop, but I was willing to try it since I've enjoyed the author's Christian fiction books. Well, this one didn't have any Christian content per say, but it was very clean. This was written in the first person point-of-view of our main character, Violet Waverly who is nearly 30-years-old. Because of the reason she left Cascade Springs when she was 17, she hasn’t been back since and still carries hurt and pain from that time in her life.
The "magic" of this series seems to be more of the books in the bookshop flopping open (in what appears to be in a semi-random order to the new Caretaker of the books, Violet) trying to reveal hints about the mystery going on or coming to the perfect buyer for the book. I have to be honest, though, if I walked into the Charming Bookshop, I'm afraid that lots of books would be calling to me! Haha! 😉
So, yes, with the magic not being over the top and it was overall pretty clean, I did enjoy this book! It was a fun, light read that I’ll give 3.5 stars for my personal rating.
~Content~
Spiritual Content- An couple ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; A few mentions of God; A few mentions of prayers & praying; A couple mentions of faith; A mention of the Promise Land;
*Note: Mentions of a water that is rumored/believed to heal or kill; A few mentions of someone believing that life has no meaning; A few mentions of curses and possibly being cursed; A couple mentions of Hell; A couple mentions of aliens; A mention of prehistoric times; a mention of a witch hunt; A mention of a cave woman A mention of a man looking like a Greek god;
Negative Content- Coming upon a dead body (barely-above-not-detailed); Being almost ran over by a car & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Pain & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Being held at gunpoint; Many mentions of a murder, deaths, dead bodies, suspects/killers, crime scenes, & how they happened (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of when Violet founds her best friend dead (an accidental death that was taken as a murder, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of deaths & dying; Mo an accidental death when a gun went off (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of wars, slaves, fighting, & deaths; Mentions of attacks, pain, screams and injuries; Mentions of illegal activities, crimes, smuggling, arrests, jails, and prisons; Mentions of thieves, stealing, stolen items, a robbery, & break-ins; Mentions of drinking, wineries, pubs, & bar fights; Mentions of threats; Mentions of betrayal; Mentions of lies and lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of possible suicides; A few mentions of being held at gunpoint; A few mentions of violence; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of throwing up;
1 'heck', 1 ‘shut up’, 1 'what the devil', 2 forms of ‘dumb’, 2 'OMG's, 10 forms of 'stupid'; Sass, Sarcasm, & Eye rolling; Mentions of curses (said, not written).
Sexual Content- 1 cheek kiss; Touches & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing; Nearness & Smelling; A bit of noticing men’s muscles (barely-above-not-detailed); 1 ‘hot’, 2 ‘harlot’, 2 ‘trollop’s; Mentions of crushes, blushes, & flirting; Mentions of dating, couples, boyfriends, girlfriends, cheating, breakups, & exes; A few mentions of Violet's father who has never been in the picture; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of an older woman writing amorous scenes in her books; A couple mentions of a Casanova.
“It was charming. It was perfect. It was the last place on planet Earth I wanted to be.”
I wasn't so sure about a book/series about a magical bookshop, but I was willing to try it since I've enjoyed the author's Christian fiction books. Well, this one didn't have any Christian content per say, but it was very clean. This was written in the first person point-of-view of our main character, Violet Waverly who is nearly 30-years-old. Because of the reason she left Cascade Springs when she was 17, she hasn’t been back since and still carries hurt and pain from that time in her life.
The "magic" of this series seems to be more of the books in the bookshop flopping open (in what appears to be in a semi-random order to the new Caretaker of the books, Violet) trying to reveal hints about the mystery going on or coming to the perfect buyer for the book. I have to be honest, though, if I walked into the Charming Bookshop, I'm afraid that lots of books would be calling to me! Haha! 😉
So, yes, with the magic not being over the top and it was overall pretty clean, I did enjoy this book! It was a fun, light read that I’ll give 3.5 stars for my personal rating.
“My boring life just got weird.”
~Content~
Spiritual Content- An couple ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; A few mentions of God; A few mentions of prayers & praying; A couple mentions of faith; A mention of the Promise Land;
*Note: Mentions of a water that is rumored/believed to heal or kill; A few mentions of someone believing that life has no meaning; A few mentions of curses and possibly being cursed; A couple mentions of Hell; A couple mentions of aliens; A mention of prehistoric times; a mention of a witch hunt; A mention of a cave woman A mention of a man looking like a Greek god;
Negative Content- Coming upon a dead body (barely-above-not-detailed); Being almost ran over by a car & injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Pain & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Being held at gunpoint; Many mentions of a murder, deaths, dead bodies, suspects/killers, crime scenes, & how they happened (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of when Violet founds her best friend dead (an accidental death that was taken as a murder, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of deaths & dying; Mo an accidental death when a gun went off (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of wars, slaves, fighting, & deaths; Mentions of attacks, pain, screams and injuries; Mentions of illegal activities, crimes, smuggling, arrests, jails, and prisons; Mentions of thieves, stealing, stolen items, a robbery, & break-ins; Mentions of drinking, wineries, pubs, & bar fights; Mentions of threats; Mentions of betrayal; Mentions of lies and lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of possible suicides; A few mentions of being held at gunpoint; A few mentions of violence; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of throwing up;
1 'heck', 1 ‘shut up’, 1 'what the devil', 2 forms of ‘dumb’, 2 'OMG's, 10 forms of 'stupid'; Sass, Sarcasm, & Eye rolling; Mentions of curses (said, not written).
Sexual Content- 1 cheek kiss; Touches & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing; Nearness & Smelling; A bit of noticing men’s muscles (barely-above-not-detailed); 1 ‘hot’, 2 ‘harlot’, 2 ‘trollop’s; Mentions of crushes, blushes, & flirting; Mentions of dating, couples, boyfriends, girlfriends, cheating, breakups, & exes; A few mentions of Violet's father who has never been in the picture; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of an older woman writing amorous scenes in her books; A couple mentions of a Casanova.
August 16, 2018
CRIME AND POETRY is the first in a new series by author Amanda Flower aka Isabella Alan. There is everything I enjoy in a cozy present in this book; loving families, a hint of romance, beautiful setting, a little magic, wonderful characters and a great protagonist.
The book begins with Violet Waverly frantically running back to her hometown of Cascade Springs, New York, after a twelve-year absence. Her Grandma Daisy called her saying she needed her, sounding very ill. Violet assumed she was at death's door and hightailed it home, only to find out it was a ruse to get Violet to come home and take over the family’s bookstore. Violet is ready to head back to Chicago, but a close friend of Grandma Daisy ends up dead in her driveway with Daisy the prime suspect. She decides to stay to help her grandma, of course that also means doing some investigating on her own.
Violet is a wonderful character – smart, witty, bookish, a bit goofy, and totally relatable. She has avoided Cascade Springs for over a decade, and what happened years ago adds a second mystery to the story. Violet’s amateur sleuthing skills led her in the right direction to help Daisy, with a little help from the charmed books in her grandmother’s magical bookshop. I really enjoyed the characters of Grandma Daisy, Chief Rainwater and of course Emerson the cat who adopted Violet rather than the other way around. The main mystery of who killed Benedict Raisin was very interesting, combining a bit of history from Cascade Springs with what was going on in the town in the present. Violet’s research skills came in handy with her investigation, as well as the help from Emily Dickinson. Is there going to be romance in Violet's future? Will she become the keeper of the books? Read this delightful story to find out. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narration was well done. A few words not pronounce the way Canadians do, but that is okay. The voices were easy to differentiate and that is not always the case. I am ready to start the next one for an upcoming discussion in my Cozy Mystery bookclub.
The book begins with Violet Waverly frantically running back to her hometown of Cascade Springs, New York, after a twelve-year absence. Her Grandma Daisy called her saying she needed her, sounding very ill. Violet assumed she was at death's door and hightailed it home, only to find out it was a ruse to get Violet to come home and take over the family’s bookstore. Violet is ready to head back to Chicago, but a close friend of Grandma Daisy ends up dead in her driveway with Daisy the prime suspect. She decides to stay to help her grandma, of course that also means doing some investigating on her own.
Violet is a wonderful character – smart, witty, bookish, a bit goofy, and totally relatable. She has avoided Cascade Springs for over a decade, and what happened years ago adds a second mystery to the story. Violet’s amateur sleuthing skills led her in the right direction to help Daisy, with a little help from the charmed books in her grandmother’s magical bookshop. I really enjoyed the characters of Grandma Daisy, Chief Rainwater and of course Emerson the cat who adopted Violet rather than the other way around. The main mystery of who killed Benedict Raisin was very interesting, combining a bit of history from Cascade Springs with what was going on in the town in the present. Violet’s research skills came in handy with her investigation, as well as the help from Emily Dickinson. Is there going to be romance in Violet's future? Will she become the keeper of the books? Read this delightful story to find out. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narration was well done. A few words not pronounce the way Canadians do, but that is okay. The voices were easy to differentiate and that is not always the case. I am ready to start the next one for an upcoming discussion in my Cozy Mystery bookclub.
June 12, 2020
Good, clean fun.
The crow needs more character development: someone tell the author to please research crows. (Full disclosure, I may or may not be the crow pictured in my profile avatar, lol)
As usual, I did not guess the who-dunnit. I was hoping the ex-boyfriend was the murderer, quite honestly, in hopes of getting his old flame, our protagonist, to return to town, but then we wouldn't have a love triangle would we.
I totally surprised myself by laughing out loud during the gala, all that stage business with the shrimp cocktail.
Bonus star to Grandma for understanding the value of popcorn and how no one should ever need to share their bag with anyone!
The crow needs more character development: someone tell the author to please research crows. (Full disclosure, I may or may not be the crow pictured in my profile avatar, lol)
As usual, I did not guess the who-dunnit. I was hoping the ex-boyfriend was the murderer, quite honestly, in hopes of getting his old flame, our protagonist, to return to town, but then we wouldn't have a love triangle would we.
I totally surprised myself by laughing out loud during the gala, all that stage business with the shrimp cocktail.
Bonus star to Grandma for understanding the value of popcorn and how no one should ever need to share their bag with anyone!
January 24, 2021
This is a solid 3.5/5 stars for the first book in a couple series. I really enjoyed the main character’s relationship with her feisty grandma! Their dynamic was great fun to read!
I thought that the murder element was pretty well done but I wasn’t a fan of the pop up of the “whodunit”. I feel like there weren’t enough skillfully dropped hints to really have guessed the killer.
The characters are enough to make me want to pick the next book up in the series. I can’t wait to see how our main character takes up the caretaker role and settles into her new normal. This book even made me want to read some classics. Which is saying a lot.
I thought that the murder element was pretty well done but I wasn’t a fan of the pop up of the “whodunit”. I feel like there weren’t enough skillfully dropped hints to really have guessed the killer.
The characters are enough to make me want to pick the next book up in the series. I can’t wait to see how our main character takes up the caretaker role and settles into her new normal. This book even made me want to read some classics. Which is saying a lot.
July 2, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower, the 1st book in her Magical Bookshop series.
April 30, 2021
I’ve been hearing so much about Amanda Flower’s books so I thought I’d give this series a try. Plus, I needed a palate cleanser from the gritty and darker books I’ve been reading. Glad I did!
I love our MC Violet and her grandma Daisy who owns a magical bookshop where the books literally fly of the shelves and assist “The Caretaker” of the shop with various clues in the mystery. There is also a magical birch tree in the store which provides the powers the books hold. I loved that idea. Tree hugger bait.
This series is definitely one that I will continue reading. The characters are not over the top or silly which I found surprisingly refreshing. Grandma Daisy is pure class and provides a calmness to the overall narrative. Violet is an intense academic who’s never really had time to get to get know herself. All that changes when she gets pulled back to Cascade Springs, NY after living Chicago for years.
Oh, and there’s a cool bookshop crow named Faulkner and of course a tuxedo cat named Emerson.
Loved all the references to classic literature woven throughout the story. Fantastic!
I love our MC Violet and her grandma Daisy who owns a magical bookshop where the books literally fly of the shelves and assist “The Caretaker” of the shop with various clues in the mystery. There is also a magical birch tree in the store which provides the powers the books hold. I loved that idea. Tree hugger bait.
This series is definitely one that I will continue reading. The characters are not over the top or silly which I found surprisingly refreshing. Grandma Daisy is pure class and provides a calmness to the overall narrative. Violet is an intense academic who’s never really had time to get to get know herself. All that changes when she gets pulled back to Cascade Springs, NY after living Chicago for years.
Oh, and there’s a cool bookshop crow named Faulkner and of course a tuxedo cat named Emerson.
Loved all the references to classic literature woven throughout the story. Fantastic!
May 12, 2020
A Magical Bookstore is a place that I love to visit! If you toss in a magical tree that needs mystic water that makes it more interesting. I love the fact that she rushed home to help her grandma even though she dreaded coming back to town. When t the books started to pick the patrons they needed to go home with was just perfect! Such a great cozy mystery!
December 19, 2024
This series is so cute, I just ordered the next one to read !
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