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Destiny Bay Cozy #7
Murder and the Secret Spring
Mele has had it with being called “That Murder Girl,” and when she gets a chance to save a life instead of finding another dead body, she hopes the tide has finally turned.
No such luck!
Only hours go by before she’s back in the game, representing a chef accused of poisoning his manager with a delicious tiramisu (recipe included—minus the poison!). At the same time, Sami has disappeared and Mele’s going to have to do some scary stuff to find him. To make matters worse, her relationship with that handsome detective seems to have hit the skids.
Can Mele save the chef, save the relationship, find her missing cat, all without ending up the killer's next victim? Maybe…with a little magic and a friendly ghost on her side. What are the odds?
No such luck!
Only hours go by before she’s back in the game, representing a chef accused of poisoning his manager with a delicious tiramisu (recipe included—minus the poison!). At the same time, Sami has disappeared and Mele’s going to have to do some scary stuff to find him. To make matters worse, her relationship with that handsome detective seems to have hit the skids.
Can Mele save the chef, save the relationship, find her missing cat, all without ending up the killer's next victim? Maybe…with a little magic and a friendly ghost on her side. What are the odds?
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2017
19 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 3, 2017
“Murder and the Secret Spring” earns 5/5 Marvelous Mysteries…Murderous Fun!
I am a newbie to the Destiny Bay Cozy Mystery world of J.D. Winters, and starting well into the series with book seven, I tried to avoid any ‘newbie handicap’ by reading several previous book synopses and reviews. So, here we go…Mele Keahi has the ‘magic touch’ seemingly passed down through the generations, and one of her closest confidants and teachers is Aunty Jane, BFF of her grandmother and…a ghost! Mele also has a menagerie of animals, friends, and family to provide her support as she is confronted with a variety of incidents of mayhem and murder. In “Murder and the Secret Spring,” a few days ago Aunty Jane gave her a family heirloom, a very old cat-shaped ‘netsuke’ carved from ancient ivory. She has yet to figure out what is inside the secret compartment, but she knows that wearing the talisman is meant to protect her and give her additional magical abilities. She has in the past been reluctant to use magic, but knowing her grandmother wanted to her have the charm, how can she refuse to take on the rest of her heritage? There’s the ceremony, the dream state, the phone call from Hawaii. Well, I’m hooked!
J.D. Winters has penned a delightfully entertaining book with a story that touches on some contemporary issues turned mystery—why do they have so much water in a drought? Then of course, murder…you never insult the chef! Lots of motives to go with opportunity that kept me turning the pages to a final ‘Wow’ reveal. I was very interested in Mele who was strong and endearing, yet vulnerable, and Aunty Jane was a hoot. I enjoyed the pace of the story, descriptions, and realistic dialog. Humor, too! The whole Destiny Bay community was entertaining and any magic or paranormal parts work; they are not juvenile hocus-pocus. I highly recommend this book.
"Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.”
I am a newbie to the Destiny Bay Cozy Mystery world of J.D. Winters, and starting well into the series with book seven, I tried to avoid any ‘newbie handicap’ by reading several previous book synopses and reviews. So, here we go…Mele Keahi has the ‘magic touch’ seemingly passed down through the generations, and one of her closest confidants and teachers is Aunty Jane, BFF of her grandmother and…a ghost! Mele also has a menagerie of animals, friends, and family to provide her support as she is confronted with a variety of incidents of mayhem and murder. In “Murder and the Secret Spring,” a few days ago Aunty Jane gave her a family heirloom, a very old cat-shaped ‘netsuke’ carved from ancient ivory. She has yet to figure out what is inside the secret compartment, but she knows that wearing the talisman is meant to protect her and give her additional magical abilities. She has in the past been reluctant to use magic, but knowing her grandmother wanted to her have the charm, how can she refuse to take on the rest of her heritage? There’s the ceremony, the dream state, the phone call from Hawaii. Well, I’m hooked!
J.D. Winters has penned a delightfully entertaining book with a story that touches on some contemporary issues turned mystery—why do they have so much water in a drought? Then of course, murder…you never insult the chef! Lots of motives to go with opportunity that kept me turning the pages to a final ‘Wow’ reveal. I was very interested in Mele who was strong and endearing, yet vulnerable, and Aunty Jane was a hoot. I enjoyed the pace of the story, descriptions, and realistic dialog. Humor, too! The whole Destiny Bay community was entertaining and any magic or paranormal parts work; they are not juvenile hocus-pocus. I highly recommend this book.
"Disclosure: A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.”
November 9, 2017
Murder mystery, ghost, maybe a little romance or maybe not all according to the blurb. It did have all this but for me was lacking somewhat. I think part of the problem that I had is it was stated as a standalone and didn’t need to read the rest of the series to read this. Yes you can, but I think you would be better off reading the others first. Since this is the first one in the series that I read there was some confusion for me at the beginning. It did explain the characters but I went back as felt I had missed something. The book was good overall, after I got past the first part. The only other problem I had was later in the book where again the author popped in a character that not reading the other books was a little abrupt for me. A good but for me not great story. Worth the time to read but I would not read again. I did receive an ARC from Hidden Gems for an honest review.
June 25, 2018
Mele "that murder girl" is back at it again. She can't help that murder seems to fall at her feet and that her interference causes problems between her and the handsome detective she is dating. This time Mele with the help of her aunt, friends, and ghostly guides, must find out who really killed the manager of a new popular restaurant before the police lock the cell doors on the restaurant's popular chef.
This was the first book out of the series that I read and found that it could work as a standalone. However, because of the characters and the author's writing style, I plan to go back and read all the previous books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This was the first book out of the series that I read and found that it could work as a standalone. However, because of the characters and the author's writing style, I plan to go back and read all the previous books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
November 22, 2017
What a great story!!! Mele is a wonderful character and she definitely holds your interest while reading of her escapades. Great female character for a great story. Really enjoyed how the characters interact with each other and the murder suspects kept leaping off the pages trying to get you to notice them. Dante the ghost was an interesting addition to the story. Looking forward to reading the first books in the series to understand where he came from. The twists and turns in the story made me want to turn the pages to find out what mischief Mele was up to next. J.D. Winters has a gift for writing enjoyable stories and I am glad I found her.
December 18, 2017
This is my first Mele Keahi's story that I have read. Mele changes where she lives because she is known as "That Murder Girl" which no girl wants to be called. On the mainland she hopes she has left all that murder business across the ocean, but atlas, that is not the case. When a chef is accused of killing his manager Mele is right in the middle of things again. Then her cat disappears, her relationship with the detective seems to come to an abrupt stop. Can Mele get things back on track and find the real killer? You will need to read the book for the answers. I voluntarily read a copy of this book, the review is my own opinion.
April 17, 2019
This series is so confusing. It's like the author doesn't keep up with her storyline. Characters who don't like each other, suddenly are friends with no warning. Her aunt supposedly broke up with the chief in the last book and now they are dating again? It's off and on so much between the main character and her love interest in getting whiplash. He doesn't respect her and treats her like she doesn't know what's going on. I just can't anymore. Which is sad because the story had potential. But the author introduces storylines that don't go anywhere. We still don't know anything about Mele's past really or her mom.
November 7, 2017
This is my first foray into Destiny Bay and it probably won't be my last. It's a quick and easy read with a good mystery. I especially liked that it kept me guessing until the big reveal. The clues were all there, I just hadn't put them together. And that made me love the book even more - that it lead me on several twisty little diversions that kept me second-guessing my theories about 'who dunnit'. The characters are quirky and fun and I look forward to learning more about them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
November 9, 2017
This is the first book I've read by this author and therefore the first in the series I've read. Although I haven't read the first six books, I didn't feel like I was missing anything or got lost on the storyline. They seem to be standalones. This was a cute mystery that keep me guessing with some twists. I will most likely go back and read the other books in this series.
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review.*
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my honest review.*
November 10, 2017
This was a cute and entertaining cozy type mystery by J D Winters about a young Hawaiian woman learning to accept and use her magical talents to help prove who is guilty or innocent of the murder committed. The author takes the reader on a quick trip down a list of suspects and possible motives to find the real culprit. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of the book from Hidden Gems.
November 4, 2017
What a warm, cosy story this is!
I enjoyed every minute of it, from the idyllic setting, to the plethora of suspects in the murder, to the light touch of magic.
The mystery kept me guessing, and the characters, especially Mele and Bebe, were so well rounded and delightful.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed every minute of it, from the idyllic setting, to the plethora of suspects in the murder, to the light touch of magic.
The mystery kept me guessing, and the characters, especially Mele and Bebe, were so well rounded and delightful.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
November 9, 2017
I love a good cozy mystery and J.D. Winters doesn't disappoint.
We have murder, a little romance, a little magic and a whole lot of fun. This is a book you can read in a lazy afternoon. And I promise you won't figure out the murderer until the end. I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We have murder, a little romance, a little magic and a whole lot of fun. This is a book you can read in a lazy afternoon. And I promise you won't figure out the murderer until the end. I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2017
Great read
If like me you love a great cozy with stories that will keep you turning the page and characters that you want to know than J D Winters books are for you I can't wait till the next one
If like me you love a great cozy with stories that will keep you turning the page and characters that you want to know than J D Winters books are for you I can't wait till the next one
January 2, 2020
Killer Tiramisu
Some interesting characters in this whodunit. Mele tries out some of her new magic, Sami is MIA, a murderer on the loose and Dante along with new information. I really wish we knew more about Dante and why Captain Stone has so much need to punish Mele~
Some interesting characters in this whodunit. Mele tries out some of her new magic, Sami is MIA, a murderer on the loose and Dante along with new information. I really wish we knew more about Dante and why Captain Stone has so much need to punish Mele~
October 29, 2017
I truly enjoyed this read. It didn't disappoint. I couldn't wait to see where it would go. Great read. Can't wait for more. I received an advance copy for an honest review.
November 2, 2017
An absolutely delightful story that won’t let you go until you’re finished reading Mele is such an inspiring character that was made for this story. Received an ARC.
June 16, 2020
Love her books.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews