Reap with One Eye Open

Farm to Fable Paranormal Cozy Mysteries #4

by E.L. Wilder

Hazel Bennett is about to reap what she has sown. It’s autumn in Vermont, and Bennett Farms is ablaze with fall foliage. Just in time for the Bennett family to host its first annual harvest festival. The event is supposed to be your standard family-friendly agricultural shindig—with plenty of apple cider donuts, live music, and cow plop bingo. But when a group of renowned paranormal investigators comes to town to rake up the farm’s magical secrets, it draws the sort of attention the Bennett family has painstakingly avoided for centuries. But when Hazel discovers an eager young YouTuber dead at the hands of a scythe-wielding scarecrow, she finds herself at the top of the suspect list. Now everyone is watching, the cameras are rolling, and the pressure is heaping up faster than a pile of dead leaves. Now Hazel must find the murderer and prove her innocence before the whole world discovers the true nature of Bennett Farms and her family’s magical lineage. Reap with One Eye Open is the fourth book in the Farm to Fable Paranormal Cozy Mystery series. The story is packed with spellcasters, mythical creatures, and all the things that make Vermont a quirky little state. The tales are sometimes deadly serious, sometimes deadly funny, and sometimes just deadly.

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2020

About the author

E.L. Wilder is a Vermont author, editor, and stay-at-home parent, a former educator and journalist—and a lifelong deovtee to coffee.

Reviews

[Rosalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel Bennett has a problem on her farm. The portal to the magic world was destroyed, which meant that there would be no more magical beings coming over to the mundane (human) side to cause trouble. All good, right? Not quite, since the Tanglewood is magic it needs to have a source of magic to keep it healthy. Parts of the wood are dying and Hazel is doing her best to restore the portal, with no luck. As the harvest festival is about to begin, a group of YouTube ghost hunters shows up at the farm and starts filming videos to expose the magical doings that they've been told are happening there. They're quite happy to use her past as an actress to get themselves more views and will stop at nothing to get them. She also finds out that one of her predecessors was not quite stable and created something that will quite possibly destroy the farm. The story is well written and plotted and gives you an unexpected twist at the end when you think all the problems are solved. I have to take off half a star because there are several really obvious typos and interchanged words that are annoying, especially since the use of language and grammar is normally very good. Still, a great addition to the series and you need to find out what happens next.

[Aimee Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel has been trying to learn her magic and repair the Postern. Hazel and everyone is getting ready for the festival, when she gets a phone call. Hazel finds out paranormal investigators are at the Bennett Farms. They seem to have a tipster that has told them secrets of the farm. Hazel follows someone and they end up murdered. Hazel and others are prime suspects in the crime, Hazel has to decide if she will investigate.
Besides the things with the paranormal investigators, strange things are happening on the farm. Things seem to be dying and she knows something is wrong. She finds out about her ancestor and it might be her past might be being used in the murders.


This was a fun read with all the different aspects that occur in this book. The ending in this book, makes you want the next book. You will see Hazel trying to find information on her family, her magic and the murder. They are more related than she realized.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sue-Dee Numb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazel has enough on her hands without some You Tube ghost hunters filming on the farm, when one of their own is found dead, they turn the cameras and seem to narrate the story they want and not the truth - not that they are aware of the truth nor can they ever be aware of the real truth! Hazel has enough to do without being an online viral villain, now she has to hunt for a murderer and keep the Bennett Farm secrets!

This is a good series, it is easy to follow with enough humour in so as not to be dire! The characters are likeable and the storyline is well written,

I do recommend you read this as part of the series though as the story arc runs through out.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel Bennett has been busy working on her magic and trying to repair the Postern. Bennett farms is now open to the public, and a bunch of YouTubers show up, playing up her past as an actress to get more info. When a murder is committed on the farm. It’s up to Hazel to figure out the murderer before the YouTube group exposes the farms secrets. Love the series, so entertaining and a great plot twist at the end. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dorothy Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bennett Family wants to hold a harvest festival, but YouTube paranormal investigators show up ready to expose Hazel and her family. When one of the YouTubers is murdered, Hazel finds herself a top suspect. This novel is full of exciting twists and I especially liked how Hazel’s character has developed throughout the series. She is determined to protect the farm and her family’s legacy. Reap With One Eye Open ends in a very intriguing cliffhanger.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A number of difficult turns
Hazel is the subject of a murder inquiry in the mundane world. But was the murder mundane?

Will Cordelia escape punishment for any crimes on either side of the Postern? What cost to Hazel?

Life as a Bennett witch is nothing if not a horrible ironic series of challenges

Currently available in KU format

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Val Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story with Hazel caretaking the Bennett legacies with a reappearance of a nemesis that we thought was put out of commission previously. And she gets to ride a unicorn! E.L. Wilder is one of my favourite authors for cozy paranormal mysteries.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[TheresaK · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole Lot is ODD

Hazel, Charley, Tyler, Clancy, Juni, Amy are beleaguered by YouTube personalities, murder, mayhem and long awaited revenge. The farm has dead places, dead people and dead hearts. Hazel gets it all under control and then gets blamed for it all. Doesn’t seem like she can get a break...

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy....just....OMG! The book was awesome, but the end...OMG! Scarecrows come to life, the Grim Reaper come to life! And killing! Crazy YouTube people causing problems, the past showing up, and then the END...I’m starting on the next book NOW!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Willow Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cozy mysteries especially paranormal ones. This book was great. I love the characters and the story. Looking foward to more by this author+

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Myra Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It!

I'm never sure what direction this series will take with it's unexpected twist. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Such great characters!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you keep your whereabouts as well as yourself of the limelight when a youtube channel is in town, actively searching you out? And they find you. And they film you. And they edit stuff that they film so that it tells a totally different story to what is actually going on? And in doing so, they put you in the top position of being murder suspect no. 1? Not an easy battle to win!

Lots going on in this new book, with a unicorn from the other realm running havoc in Bennet farms as well as the Odd Lot filming everywhere. I enjoyed this fast paced action and can so sympathise with Hazel as she grinds her teeth and stops herself from blasting the annoying Odd Lot out of existence. I also like the fact that Charlie's magic is developing, even though she does not encourage it and of course, this book ends in sort of a cliffhanger.....