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Hand Lettering Mystery #0.5
Cursive, Foiled Again!
Local hand lettering artist Jamie Lang is an unlikely amateur sleuth. When a friend, desperate to save an inheritance, asks for her help, she must put her hand lettering skills and powers of deduction to work in the charming small town of Cedar Valley, WA.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with something new, or if you're a fan of hand lettering, pen and ink art, graphic design, watercoloring, typography, calligraphy, and creative inspiration, this series is for you! Indulge your inner artist and sleuth. Welcome to Cedar Valley, a thriving tourist town and popular wedding venue. Once you slip into town, you'll want to stay and grab a cup of coffee with Jamie while she solves crimes. Get your copy today!
Please Note—This is a short story, not a full-length novel. It's just a taste of this brand new craft and hobby cozy series, like those samples at the grocery store. Don't worry—there's plenty more to come!
29 pages, ebook
First published June 23, 2019
286 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Daisy Robyns
9 books18 followersDaisy writes sweet, funny, warm-hearted cozy mysteries. Her characters are witty, adventurous, and crafty in the nicest way. She loves playing small town sleuth and transporting readers to a world where wine pairs with hand lettering, there's a hint of romance, and justice always prevails.
If you want to know when Daisy's next book will be available, visit her website, www.DaisyRobyns.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter.
If you want to know when Daisy's next book will be available, visit her website, www.DaisyRobyns.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 17, 2019
Meet Jamie Lang—hand lettering artist. In this *very* short prequel, she opens a new shop, Flourish, in Cedar Valley, WA. A nice group of secondary characters are introduced and Jamie makes quick work of helping solve an interesting mini-Mystery. A delightfully quick read! I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series.
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July 7, 2019Cursive, Foiled Again is Live!
mybook.to/CursiveFoiledAgain
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with something new, or if you're a fan of hand lettering, pen and ink art, graphic design, watercoloring, typography, calligraphy, or creative inspiration, this series is for you! Indulge your inner artist and sleuth. Welcome to Cedar Valley, a thriving tourist town and popular wedding venue. Once you slip into town, you'll want to stay and grab a cup of coffee with Jamie while she reluctantly solves crimes.
**This is a mini mystery, a short story, not a full-length novel. It's just a taste of this brand new craft and hobby cozy series, like those samples at the grocery store. Don't worry—there's plenty more to come!
mybook.to/CursiveFoiledAgain
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with something new, or if you're a fan of hand lettering, pen and ink art, graphic design, watercoloring, typography, calligraphy, or creative inspiration, this series is for you! Indulge your inner artist and sleuth. Welcome to Cedar Valley, a thriving tourist town and popular wedding venue. Once you slip into town, you'll want to stay and grab a cup of coffee with Jamie while she reluctantly solves crimes.
**This is a mini mystery, a short story, not a full-length novel. It's just a taste of this brand new craft and hobby cozy series, like those samples at the grocery store. Don't worry—there's plenty more to come!
January 2, 2020
Short and sweet. I love novellas to get the new year started or as a segue between books. This was perfect. I finished one on the Nook to see in the New Year and this one started the New Year. Then I slept when I read the 24 pages.
I imagine it's difficult to capture the reader's attention and tell the whole tale in so few pages. Jessa Archer did a great job. I know next to nothing about hand lettering but now I want to know more. An investigation is begun and taken care of. I like the main character, Jamie. She has her own business, she has friends, the setting is nice. I look forward to reading more in the series, this was a taste.
I can recommend this book and author and likely the series once I read more of it.
I imagine it's difficult to capture the reader's attention and tell the whole tale in so few pages. Jessa Archer did a great job. I know next to nothing about hand lettering but now I want to know more. An investigation is begun and taken care of. I like the main character, Jamie. She has her own business, she has friends, the setting is nice. I look forward to reading more in the series, this was a taste.
I can recommend this book and author and likely the series once I read more of it.
December 3, 2019
Cute, fun, fast read.
July 15, 2019
This is an introduction to the new Hand Lettering Mystery Series. In this mini-mystery, you meet local hand lettering artist Jamie Lang. She uses her lettering skills and know how to help a friend solve an inheritance problem involving a hand-lettered plaque that seems to be sending “messages” from the great beyond.
Can Jamie solve the case or will the inheritance end up going to the wrong person? Learn how Jamie uses her understanding of ink and pen art along with specialty papers and lighting to unravel the mystery.
While this is a mini-mystery, it is a great introduction to a new craft and hobby mystery series that will be enjoyed by cozy mystery fans. If you like wit, mystery, adventure, a bit of suspense, fun characters, and arts & crafts themes, then you will want to add this new series to your reading list.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Can Jamie solve the case or will the inheritance end up going to the wrong person? Learn how Jamie uses her understanding of ink and pen art along with specialty papers and lighting to unravel the mystery.
While this is a mini-mystery, it is a great introduction to a new craft and hobby mystery series that will be enjoyed by cozy mystery fans. If you like wit, mystery, adventure, a bit of suspense, fun characters, and arts & crafts themes, then you will want to add this new series to your reading list.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 22, 2021
Another very short book, and another freebie teaser for a new cozy mystery series. In this case a brief introduction to the “hand lettering mysteries” by Daisy Robyns, a.k.a Jessa Archer, a.k.a Gina Robinson. In this book, and thus, I assume, in the series that follows, we see hand-lettering enthusiast and owner of yet another implausible retail business, Jamie Lang, as she investigates a baffling crime in her small town in rural Washington state.
As this book is so short, we don’t really get to dig into a serious or complex mystery. This one has the flavour of “Scooby Doo” rather than “Hercule Poirot”, and involves a dastardly plan to steal an inheritance from a sweet old lady by faking a ghostly intervention. It’s much more of a “how done it” than a “who done it” - the gossipy ladies at the weekly hand-lettering class have worked out who is to blame before the ink is dry on their inspirational quotes. Luckily, our heroine is there to work out hope it is done, using her esoteric hand-lettering knowledge. Along the way she chats and makes friends with neighbours and other lettering enthusiasts, and the story has a wholesome, upbeat feeling to it.
One thing that I found particularly refreshing bout this story is that it does not involve a murder. The appearance of a body in the first few pages has become a cozy mystery staple, and that makes this book quite a rarity. To be clear, there are deaths mentioned, but they are all of natural causes, and the essence of this story is the celebration of life and the love and friendship we find in it. The villain is not evil, as such, merely greedy and willing to pull out all the stops to use a sad situation to her own advantage. When her plot is uncovered she simply abandons it, with no involvement of the authorities and no shaking of fists and vowing revenge.
I feel generally positive about this book as an introduction to a series. The writing is pleasant and engaging, and it felt like a great way to spend a bit of time while I was keeping an eye on the cooking. My only concern is that I tend to prefer a twistier mystery that keeps you guessing. This story is so short and straightforward that it gives hardly any clues as to what the plots and puzzles of the later, and hopefully longer, books in the series might be like.
As this book is so short, we don’t really get to dig into a serious or complex mystery. This one has the flavour of “Scooby Doo” rather than “Hercule Poirot”, and involves a dastardly plan to steal an inheritance from a sweet old lady by faking a ghostly intervention. It’s much more of a “how done it” than a “who done it” - the gossipy ladies at the weekly hand-lettering class have worked out who is to blame before the ink is dry on their inspirational quotes. Luckily, our heroine is there to work out hope it is done, using her esoteric hand-lettering knowledge. Along the way she chats and makes friends with neighbours and other lettering enthusiasts, and the story has a wholesome, upbeat feeling to it.
One thing that I found particularly refreshing bout this story is that it does not involve a murder. The appearance of a body in the first few pages has become a cozy mystery staple, and that makes this book quite a rarity. To be clear, there are deaths mentioned, but they are all of natural causes, and the essence of this story is the celebration of life and the love and friendship we find in it. The villain is not evil, as such, merely greedy and willing to pull out all the stops to use a sad situation to her own advantage. When her plot is uncovered she simply abandons it, with no involvement of the authorities and no shaking of fists and vowing revenge.
I feel generally positive about this book as an introduction to a series. The writing is pleasant and engaging, and it felt like a great way to spend a bit of time while I was keeping an eye on the cooking. My only concern is that I tend to prefer a twistier mystery that keeps you guessing. This story is so short and straightforward that it gives hardly any clues as to what the plots and puzzles of the later, and hopefully longer, books in the series might be like.
February 15, 2020
Jessa Archer/Daisy Robyns – Hand Lettering Mini Mystery – Cursive, Foiled Again – Reviewed 2/14/20 – Read 2/6/20
When a dear friend asks for help, her skills and inquisitive nature kicks in!!!
Jamie Lang has a talent for two things, hand-lettering and amateur sleuthing. When her friend asks for help stopping her cousin from stealing an inheritance, Jamie jumps to the task. After visiting the friend's aunt, she figures out how the cousin was using tricks to indicate that she should be the one that inherits.
What did I like? This introduction to the new cozy mini mystery series was fun and endearing. Years ago, I use to do calligraphy and it is so beautiful, so to read about the beautiful lettering that Jamie Lang is doing in her shop was wonderful. It takes talent and hard work to perfect your work, so I will be looking forward to reading more about her.
What will you like? Wonderful characters that lead you into this intriguing mystery. The details and descriptions will have you seeing the wonderful lettering and joining the group that is learning the crafts. I loved the mystery and the sweet way they stifled the culprit. Great read, looking forward to more adventures in the future.
• File Size: 3704 KB
• Print Length: 29 Pages
• Released: 6/23/19
• Genre: Thriller & Suspense Short Reads, Literature & Fiction Short Reads, Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery
When a dear friend asks for help, her skills and inquisitive nature kicks in!!!
Jamie Lang has a talent for two things, hand-lettering and amateur sleuthing. When her friend asks for help stopping her cousin from stealing an inheritance, Jamie jumps to the task. After visiting the friend's aunt, she figures out how the cousin was using tricks to indicate that she should be the one that inherits.
What did I like? This introduction to the new cozy mini mystery series was fun and endearing. Years ago, I use to do calligraphy and it is so beautiful, so to read about the beautiful lettering that Jamie Lang is doing in her shop was wonderful. It takes talent and hard work to perfect your work, so I will be looking forward to reading more about her.
What will you like? Wonderful characters that lead you into this intriguing mystery. The details and descriptions will have you seeing the wonderful lettering and joining the group that is learning the crafts. I loved the mystery and the sweet way they stifled the culprit. Great read, looking forward to more adventures in the future.
• File Size: 3704 KB
• Print Length: 29 Pages
• Released: 6/23/19
• Genre: Thriller & Suspense Short Reads, Literature & Fiction Short Reads, Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery
September 11, 2020
There is an absolute sausage machine pushing out cosy mysteries, and there always has to be a gimmick and a punny title.
But hand lettering is a new one on me.
Jamie owns a hand lettering shop and runs classes there. One night, a student mentions that her relative is going to leave everything to one family member based on a glowing recommendation from her dead husband. The quote he commissioned for her highlights that relative’s name; rainy is close enough for the dying woman.
888
It was okay, lots of introduction of other people - mostly other shop owners - who presumably feature in later stories.
And I remember when my family swapped all the labels around on grandma’s things. *shudders*
3 stars
But hand lettering is a new one on me.
Jamie owns a hand lettering shop and runs classes there. One night, a student mentions that her relative is going to leave everything to one family member based on a glowing recommendation from her dead husband. The quote he commissioned for her highlights that relative’s name; rainy is close enough for the dying woman.
888
It was okay, lots of introduction of other people - mostly other shop owners - who presumably feature in later stories.
And I remember when my family swapped all the labels around on grandma’s things. *shudders*
3 stars
October 28, 2020
Another short free cozy mystery read!
Cursive, foiled again! was a great introduction to this series. It had the cute niche of hand lettering, which I can say I haven't come across before.
I really enjoyed the mystery, even though it was only short it left me wanting to read more of the series.
I would highly recommend this if you’re looking for a super short cozy mystery read!
Cursive, foiled again! was a great introduction to this series. It had the cute niche of hand lettering, which I can say I haven't come across before.
I really enjoyed the mystery, even though it was only short it left me wanting to read more of the series.
I would highly recommend this if you’re looking for a super short cozy mystery read!
October 27, 2020
This is a short story about a handwriting artist. There are no murders here, but plenty of subterfuge and mystery. I like that it takes place in a small town near Seattle. I look forward to reading more about this crafty heroine.
January 21, 2020
Intriguing!
As a long time fan of hand lettering, I found this short story very interesting. Plan to read some of her full length books. Interesting concept!!!
As a long time fan of hand lettering, I found this short story very interesting. Plan to read some of her full length books. Interesting concept!!!
September 7, 2020
A clever crime but I find the idea of fighting over wills so depressing.
October 9, 2020
Soo I know this is the prequel short story, but I read it after I finished the series just to spend a little more time with the characters. And of course I loved it.
October 18, 2020
Cursive, Foiled Again
A great short story! Jamie is asked for assistance regarding a quote that mysterious changes. The owner believes it's a message from her decreased husband!!!
A great short story! Jamie is asked for assistance regarding a quote that mysterious changes. The owner believes it's a message from her decreased husband!!!
October 28, 2020
Quick read with a mystery that's not a murder. Good fast read.
January 6, 2021
Meh
Cute but could have just been a chapter in the first book. It didn’t really reveal anything extraordinary about the characters.
Cute but could have just been a chapter in the first book. It didn’t really reveal anything extraordinary about the characters.
September 18, 2021
Funny. ,Writing
A quick read and intriguing. This mystery keep my interest and I finished it quickly.
Its amazing how fast social media works. I enjoyed this book.
A quick read and intriguing. This mystery keep my interest and I finished it quickly.
Its amazing how fast social media works. I enjoyed this book.
November 2, 2021
Cute cozy mystery
Short and sweet, characters that you quickly start to like, A mystery, friendships, and all contained in a quaint story that is easily read in a very short time!
Short and sweet, characters that you quickly start to like, A mystery, friendships, and all contained in a quaint story that is easily read in a very short time!
April 24, 2022
First time read
Nice short story. And I found the lettering part of the story very interesting. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Nice short story. And I found the lettering part of the story very interesting. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
December 22, 2022
A fun prequel
This was a fun light mystery. No one dies, but it is a good intro to the characters. I liked the characters and the hand lettering angle.
This was a fun light mystery. No one dies, but it is a good intro to the characters. I liked the characters and the hand lettering angle.
December 30, 2022
Loved it
I found this after I read the five books in the series. I had hoped it was a sneak peak at more books but it was the prequel. I still enjoyed the mystery all the same.
I found this after I read the five books in the series. I had hoped it was a sneak peak at more books but it was the prequel. I still enjoyed the mystery all the same.
July 20, 2023
A super quick read. I was half right on my guess for the trick. Lol.
August 29, 2023
This is a fun quick read which introduces the main character to the series. I read the series first and loved it. Highly recommend.
September 3, 2023
It was okay. Good plot but would have been better if it was just a tad longer.
March 14, 2024
Wonderful cozy with a pretty unique plot. I also enjoyed it because it was a quick read.
February 2, 2022
Quick read and a lite Who Done It.
February 10, 2025
🖌
The characters were delightful & smart. I absolutely adored it. Finished this short story with a smile. 😊 Will definitely read more.
The characters were delightful & smart. I absolutely adored it. Finished this short story with a smile. 😊 Will definitely read more.
December 10, 2019
Crafty cozy
A lot of cozy mysteries have a theme. In fact, a lot of them have some type of crafting as the theme. It is always a fine line to develop a believable mystery involving the particular craft without getting bogged on that craft at the same time. The author did an excellent job of coming up with a mystery that was perfect for a hand letterer to solve without being too contrived. Fun short story
A lot of cozy mysteries have a theme. In fact, a lot of them have some type of crafting as the theme. It is always a fine line to develop a believable mystery involving the particular craft without getting bogged on that craft at the same time. The author did an excellent job of coming up with a mystery that was perfect for a hand letterer to solve without being too contrived. Fun short story
December 11, 2019
Old lady
Not what I like to read. I felt like I was watching my grandmother talk her friends. 😝😷. I wish the book was geared 20, 30, 40 50 year olds .
Not what I like to read. I felt like I was watching my grandmother talk her friends. 😝😷. I wish the book was geared 20, 30, 40 50 year olds .
July 14, 2019
Jamie Lang has always loved writing in different styles from the first time she held a crayon in her fingers which led to her current status as a popular hand lettering artist with a following on YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. Her success encouraged her to open her own hand lettering shop, named “Flourish”, in Cedar Valley, WA, with its rural small-town feel. Once a month, she hosts a fun evening hand-lettering and wine & cheese event to sample local wines and letter a quote from start to finish which makes the perfect gift -- or, at the very least, is a fun night out socializing with friends.
Jamie was working on a quote for a Seattle client regarding inheritance. The evening crowd at the wine event started to discuss greedy relatives trying to steal whatever they can trick dying family members out of. Wanda Paul studied the quote quietly and told Jamie her work had magic, which made her think of her family’s situation. Then she murmured she couldn’t figure out how “she” was doing it. Jamie asked her to tell the group more and maybe they could help. Wanda said Paul's nasty cousin Karen was going to end up inheriting everything Aunt Sunny owned if they couldn’t stop her. Sunny’s treasured gift from her deceased husband Phillip was a framed quote he had altered for her to say, “A rainy day is no match for my Sunny's sweet nature. Love, Phillip." But they couldn’t figure out how Karen was making it look like Phillip was now sending supernatural messages from the grave telling her to leave all her money to Karen!
Two weeks before, Aunt Sunny had fallen and broke her hip. The hospital discovered at that time that she also had cancer and not long to live. The family moved her downstairs and hung the framed quote Phillip had given her across from her hospice bed on the first floor where she could still see it all the time. But the quote’s wording had changed! Aunt Sunny believed Phillip was communicating with her from the grave! Since Karen’s real first name was “Raine” and Phillip always called her “Rainy” like Washington’s typical weather, seeing the quote now had “Rainy” and “Sunny” highlighted in blue made Aunt Sunny figure he wanted Karen to inherit everything. The words continued to change randomly, which caught Jamie’s attention and she agreed to investigate this odd occurrence. Was it a message from the grave, or something clever the greedy Karen was manipulating? This was something Jamie could definitely look into!
This was a very well-done story with a huge group of characters from the town that the author introduces to the reader in meaningful ways. It’s as if the reader lived in the small town and knew everything about everyone. It definitely gives the book that feeling of being real and surrounding the reader with friends. The story line was clever, well-paced, and the mystery takes the reader along on the adventure of solving it. This is going to be a fun series, so grab your copy now and meet your new neighbors!
Jamie was working on a quote for a Seattle client regarding inheritance. The evening crowd at the wine event started to discuss greedy relatives trying to steal whatever they can trick dying family members out of. Wanda Paul studied the quote quietly and told Jamie her work had magic, which made her think of her family’s situation. Then she murmured she couldn’t figure out how “she” was doing it. Jamie asked her to tell the group more and maybe they could help. Wanda said Paul's nasty cousin Karen was going to end up inheriting everything Aunt Sunny owned if they couldn’t stop her. Sunny’s treasured gift from her deceased husband Phillip was a framed quote he had altered for her to say, “A rainy day is no match for my Sunny's sweet nature. Love, Phillip." But they couldn’t figure out how Karen was making it look like Phillip was now sending supernatural messages from the grave telling her to leave all her money to Karen!
Two weeks before, Aunt Sunny had fallen and broke her hip. The hospital discovered at that time that she also had cancer and not long to live. The family moved her downstairs and hung the framed quote Phillip had given her across from her hospice bed on the first floor where she could still see it all the time. But the quote’s wording had changed! Aunt Sunny believed Phillip was communicating with her from the grave! Since Karen’s real first name was “Raine” and Phillip always called her “Rainy” like Washington’s typical weather, seeing the quote now had “Rainy” and “Sunny” highlighted in blue made Aunt Sunny figure he wanted Karen to inherit everything. The words continued to change randomly, which caught Jamie’s attention and she agreed to investigate this odd occurrence. Was it a message from the grave, or something clever the greedy Karen was manipulating? This was something Jamie could definitely look into!
This was a very well-done story with a huge group of characters from the town that the author introduces to the reader in meaningful ways. It’s as if the reader lived in the small town and knew everything about everyone. It definitely gives the book that feeling of being real and surrounding the reader with friends. The story line was clever, well-paced, and the mystery takes the reader along on the adventure of solving it. This is going to be a fun series, so grab your copy now and meet your new neighbors!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews